Opposition angry over Enver Hoxha portrait at official ceremony
TIRANA, Nov. 29 – Albania celebrated last week two of its main national festivities נIndependence Day of Nov. 28 and the Liberation Day of Nov. 29 נwith little fanfare, following the massive celebrations of last year, when the country marked its centennial.
The leftist government held very formal and a few activities in southwestern port city of Vlora where the national flag was raised 101 years ago, declaring independence from the Ottoman Empire at the time.
The next day authorities also held a formal ceremony at the Martyrs of the Nation Cemetery laying wraths for those who have paid with their life for the country’s liberation from the Nazi occupiers at the World War 2.
As nearly every year, there was political friction.
A portrait of the late Albanian communist dictator, Enver Hoxha, was raised at the official ceremony by supporters of the Communist Party – officially a small member of the governing coalition נcausing political uproar on the right. The center-right main opposition Democratic Party accused the left Socialist-led governing coalition of imposing a violation of the constitution and trying to bring back old memories.
There has been no reaction from the government so far, likely considering it a side-effect at a time when the country is confronted with serious economic problems which, it says, are left from the Democrats’ governing until September.
Opposition Democrats have said that the prime minister should publicly say he is sorry of the portrait being shown or they will hold protests.
