Opposition may resume street protests

TIRANA, Sep. 1 – The opposition Socialist Party may resume street protests unless they are pleased with a compromise with the governing Democratic Party on the last year’s parliamentary election transparency.
Pandeli Majko, a senior leader of the opposition, said in an interview to a local daily, Shqip, that “the popular protests are the only weapon in the hands of the opposition to achieve election transparency
The opposition Socialists want total transparency of last year’s vote claiming vote count manipulation. They want a partial recount and a total transparency of the process. The governing Democrats say that would violate the laws and the constitution.
The country is in a political standstill as both political groupings keep to their position despite international mediation from the European Parliament, European Commission and the Council of Europe.
The opposition has used all other forms to achieve their goal of transparency. First they started with the boycott of the new parliament and then with street protests. Then in March they agreed, following Council of Europe mediation, to go back to parliament. But they did not agree with the creation of the investigative parliamentary commission which would not check or make a partial recount of the ballots in certain zones.
They resumed the street protests to culminate with the hunger strike of a bunch of their lawmakers accompanied with a couple of hundred of supporters just in front of the government office.
Until late May when again following European mediation they agreed to turn back to parliament. An informal dinner the two main political leaders — Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Tirana Mayor Edi Rama – held in Strasbourg did not help to reach a compromise.
Then they decided to boycott all voting in parliament and take part only to debate.
The two sides agreed to resume talks on how to resolve the deadlock but it seems that has given no results yet.
For the moment both sides keep stuck at their stands with spontaneous offers or requests to ask the Venice Commission decide whether the ballot boxes should be open or not.
The active political life starts next week, in a newly renovated parliament hall but with an old heart and political will.
The threat for the street protests is not new but it also shows that the country’s political life has not been warmed up by the summer vacations.
The parties are playing hardball ahead of the local elections expected in spring next year.
But the position might not be helpful for Albania ahead of decisions that Brussels is to take on the visa liberalization and also the candidate status request.