Governing Democrats warn to not repeat 1997

TIRANA, Jan. 19 – Astrit Patozi, deputy Democratic Party leader and also head of the party’s parliamentary group, denounced the opposition for trying to urge among the people the same feeling like in 1997, when they started street protests following the collapse of the failed pyramid investment schemes where they had lost all their life savings.
Patozi added, however, that the Democrats did not fear opposition Socialist leader Edi Rama, expressing their conviction in keeping the power based on the laws.
Patozi also added that they were more concerned from the fact that the opposition had been boycotting the works of the parliament, which is supposed to pass many reforms required for the country’s integration steps.
Since last July the opposition goes to parliament to take part only at the opening debate and does not participate in any voting.
For Prime Minister Sali Berisha the upcoming May 8 local elections were the main cause of concern this year.
The premier assured Albanians they would be held in a calm and fair way.
In his cabinet meeting Wednesday Berisha expressed his concern that elections would attract the attention more than organizing the tourist season.
The government insists that tourism is a main resource and he created a government task force to take care of the problems for tourist areas. The executive also decided to give a five-year tax-free time to all investment in mountainous tourism.