TIRANA, Feb. 16 – Albania’s opposition is planning to hold a major “show of force” anti-government rally Saturday, calling for an end to “government arrogance,” a guarantee of free and fair elections as well as “economic reforms that benefit all Albanians,” says Lulzim Basha, the opposition leader.
The opposition Democratic Party, which lost power in the 2013 elections, said hopes to bring hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets.
Democratic Party accuses the left-wing government of destroying the country’s economy, health and education and deepening the poverty, transforming Albania in a drug haven and using its proceeds to allegedly rig the elections.
In a meeting with party supporters in Shkodra, Basha said that the Democratic Party is calling “for free and fair elections which cannot be guaranteed without the implementation of biometrical identification of votes, and electronic voting and counting with an integrated system all over the country.”
Basha said that the anti-government rally will be peaceful, and he guaranteed that the protest will reflect the increasing discontent of citizens against the government’s unfulfilled promises, corruption and its alleged ties to drug trafficking.
“They have made a deal with criminals to prohibit the fundamental right of democracy: free and fair elections,” Basha said.
A Democratic Party spokesperson said protesters will gather at Mother Teresa Square and also in front of the prime minister’s office.
A stage is expected to be erected in front of the Council of Ministers building, where ordinary people like farmers and owners will be called to speak about their problems and troubles during the last four years under Rama’s administration.
In his speech, the Democratic Party chairman is expected to reveal some of the party’s program for the employment of the young people, improve health care and tax system providing relief for most of the country’s poorest.
The protest is perceived as a test of public support for the opposition parties at a time when public trust in the government has hit a record low.
Five months to the parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Rama on the other hand has expressed his conviction of earning a second mandate, which according to him will be used to boost Albania’s economy and overall reforms.
The parliamentary elections of June 2013, deemed as free and fair by the OSCE ODIHR, awarded Rama’s Socialist Party-led coalition, then in opposition, victory over the Democrat-led alliance, by 83 seats to 57.
