Meta calls on the opposition to end boycott

TIRANA, Sept. 7 – Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta, leader of the junior governing coalition party, Socialist Movement for Integration Party, on Sunday called on the main opposition Democratic Party of Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha to end its boycott of the parliament.
“We are, without doubt, open to cooperate with the opposition for its active inclusion in all the agenda of the country’s reforms and we await its returns to normal parliamentary life,” Meta said in a press conference.
“It would be for the good of the parliamentary life in the country but also for the good of the affirmation of the opposition as democratic and constructive,” said Meta.
The Democrats decided to boycott parliament after the start of the new parliament session last week. They said they cannot be present there only as an unheard voice and called on the government to pay heed to their calls on giving an end to the nominations of incriminated persons to top government posts.
The opposition has also expressed concern about the new territorial administrative division of the country.
Basha said the country could no go to the next year’s municipal elections with the new format, accusing the governing coalition of making the changes to serve its own electoral goals.