Leftist coalition breaks up

TIRANA, Feb. 27 – The split between the Socialist Movement for Integration of former Prime Minister Ilir Meta and the main Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama appeared closer then ever on Wednesday. Meta’s party sought to register at the Tirana district court as a new leftist coalition along with the other small opposition party, the Democratic Alliance of Neritan Ceka.
The main cause of the split seems to be the ongoing electoral reforms. The smaller parties have accused the Socialists of creating a secret alliance with the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha that would leave eliminate smaller political parties from the parliament.
Amidst the controversy, local politicians are debating whether the new electoral amendments should be based on an open or secret candidates list.
The Socialists and the Democrats are naturally in favor of a closed list which would change the electoral system into a majority system where a seat is directly voted on and elected. That would also reduce the parliament seats to 100, from the current 140.
But such a change might adversely affect smaller parties which often profit from votes given to the party rather than the candidate.
Meta is not alone in his discontent. Nard Ndoka of the Christian Democrats, part of the governing coalition, has also said he would want a different electoral law that would not leave his party out of the parliament. At this moment, a parliamentary commission co-chaired by the governing democrats and the main opposition Socialists is trying to reach a consensus on what amendments should be added to reform the electoral system.
Albanian elections have been a continuous problem and cause of concern to international organizations in post-communist Albania.
As a result, electoral reform has become a precondition for Albanias’ integration efforts into NATO and the European Union.
At this moment, six lawmakers formerly belonging to the Socialists, until they voted for the election of Bamir Topi as president while he was running as a Democrat, are joining smaller parties which are eager to absorb them.
One of the former Socialists joined Ndoka’s party and another has said he would likely join the MSI.
Rama came out Tuesday to say that they would definitely collaborate with the governing Democrats as the two largest parties, and they would not let other smaller parties apply pressure.
He publicly asked Meta not to engage in small party politics, but rather to act in more general terms to benefit the country.
The Meta-Rama conflict seems to have deeper roots than just the electoral law.
Meta had been a premier while he was still with the Socialists. He later left following friction with the former Socialist leader Fatos Nano.
Meta and Rama have been in close partnership for more than a year. But that seemed to break up when there were increasing voices from different sides that Rama could claim the premier’s post if they come to power following general elections next year.
This was not said publicly to be the cause of the friction, though immediately Meta launched a furious attack on Rama’s policy and alleged partnership with Berisha.
It is widely believed that the consequences of such a fight between the two leaders of the opposition will only benefit the governing Democrats.
It was this fight that brought Berisha to power in 2005. Many parliament seats were lost by the Democrats after voters divided their votes to two different candidates from the Socialists and the MSI.