Tirana Times Editorial
TIRANA, Feb 02 – Anyone who has followed Albanian politics for a while knows general prosecutors have a tough job. They are always under attack from those in power if they don’t follow the government’s whims.
Under Albania’s system they lead independent institutions. But they are constantly under threat of being sacked from parliament if they don’t prosecute who the government wants or dare to charge those the government does not want touched. This has been true for all Albanian governments, whether ruled by Democrats or Socialists.
But Albania has an independent prosecutor general for a reason נto keep in check the executive and the legislative נto make sure the law is equal for all. That’s also a key mission of the justice system anywhere in the world.
The government is not happy with Prosecutor General Ina Rama because she is trying to do her job נinvestigate and punish those who broke the law during the deadly opposition protest on Jan. 21, 2011.
No matter how Prime Minister Sali Berisha tries to justify it, despite the protest’s very violent and punishable nature, those four protesters did not deserve to be shot dead by the security forces. The victims’ families and the entire country, a NATO member and EU hopeful, deserve to see a full and impartial investigation.
The general prosecutor, Ms. Rama, has the support of this newspaper, just as she has the support of the international community. Her treatment of the Jan. 21 investigation has been so far competent and balanced, offering proper arguments against those accused. She is also investigating opposition members of parliament for instigating violence against the police and security forces, just as she has charged the alleged shooters.
To keep attacking Ms. Rama – as Mr. Berisha has been doing for a year נis unfair and not within the spirit of democracy.
Now Mr. Berisha says the protest will be investigated again by the new prosecutor general, because he wants Ms. Rama replaced. But let’s not forget that Ms. Rama was a top choice of the Democratic Party itself. Like other choices of the Democratic Party to lead independent institutions, she came under attack only when she stepped out of line to do her job in a way that did not meet with government’s approval.
The best answer to these attacks comes in the words of Ms. Rama’s counterpart from the United Kingdom. British Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer was in Tirana last week, telling officials independence of the judiciary is a crucial element in the rule of law. “As head of an independent body, I am concerned by the personal and public attacks on the integrity of independent institutions and individuals in them. These attacks affect not only the targeted individuals, but also the democratic elements of the system. If there are real concerns, or evidence of violations, then those claims must be pursued through the proper channels and not … used to exert pressure on individuals,” Starmer said.
Furthermore, as Mr. Starmer puts it, a country without an independent judiciary cannot effectively be governed, because someone has to keep the politicians in line and make sure they follow the laws.
At the end of the day, that is the real problem with Albanian politicians. Keeping them in line is somehow stepping out line with the government. That’s why we ask: Mr. Prime Minister – let the general prosecutor do her job.
