Opposition local officials ask government not to touch their independence

TIRANA, Nov 16 – Mayors and senior municipal officials of the opposition Socialist Party from around the country convened Sunday just in front of Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s office to protest against what they considered as government threats to reduce the authority of local leaders.
SP leader Edi Rama, who is also Tirana mayor, slammed Berisha for systematically attacking local officials by interfering with their competencies.
Rama also invited Albanians to sign a petition urging Berisha to stop his “anti-democratic, anti-constitutional and anti-legal policies”.
On behalf of all participating local officials Rama made known a series of conditions the government must meet by December 5th, or face more radical protests.
The opposition is boycotting the parliament claiming manipulation of the June 28 vote. They want to open ballot boxes in a number of areas, something which is not accepted by the running Democrats.
Opposition Socialists are to hold a big rally this Friday that will be followed with a continuous presence of their lawmakers around Berisha’s office.
They have also threatened that all local authorities they run will block the normal running of life in their areas unless let free and independent.