Meta accuses Socialist leader of becoming Berisha’s tool

TIRANA, Sep 9 – Ilir Meta of the Socialist Movement for Integration, and also the former socialist lawmaker and a senior leader, accused Socialist leader Edi Rama of turning into a blind tool of the governing Democratic party’s leader and Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, and trying to destroy the leftist coalition.
The dispute began in April when the two main political parties achieved a consensus to vote on constitutional amendments for a new voting system to change the national system from a partial majority to a regional proportional.
The new system became a problem for the smaller political parties who now must receive 2.5 percent of the votes in specific regions to claim a seat in the parliament.
Meta accused the Socialist leadership that, due to their personal interests, they preferred to become a partner with Berisha and unfairly profit form the new voting system and also of violating an agreement the five opposition political parties signed in 2006.
Meta also said openly there was no coalition in sight with the Socialists.
Meta’s party said they would go alone, or would create another coalition with smaller parties, for next year’s general elections.
It was this friction among the opposition that helped Berisha’s party and coalition to come to power in 2005.
Meta repeated, however, that he was open to cooperation regarding the electoral code, which is still to be discussed by the parliament.
Rama declined to react to Meta’s words on Monday.