Opposition pins its hopes on European lawmakers

TIRANA, June 22 – There was no forward movement this week in Albania’s political conflict, which has frozen legislative life and is threatening European prospects.
Both political groupings — the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and main opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama – are sticking to their guns.
The Socialists have claimed there has been vote manipulation at the counting process and want a partial recount in principle, saying they don’t want to change the results. The governing Democrats say that would be against the laws and the constitution.
Meanwhile at European Parliament Joseph Daul of the center-right EPP and Martin Schulz of the center-left PES said in a joint statement that they had failed in their attempts to mediate.
The European Parliament regretts that the two main political parties in Albania have been unable to solve their political stalemate, and warned that the country risks stalling its EU bid if it does not find a solution.
Rama sent a letter to the two European lawmakers urging them to continue the mediation and blaming the Democrats and Berisha for not agreeing to the compromise solution and unblock the country’s life.
It is generally known that the offer covers opening of the vote documentation and then let it to the Venice Commission if the ballot boxes should be open or not, as the opposition is asking to.
Rama wrote in his letter that he hoped their mediation process would not stop at this delicate moment for the tiny Balkan country.
“I am worried that this crisis, which the country’s premier denies it exists, also accusing the opposition every day as a manipulator of reality in Western offices, is weakening the country’s democracy and economy everyday,” wrote Rama.
The opposition is said to have accepted the suggestion of the European parliamentarians leaving the ball on the government’s court. Rama said they were ready for dialogue and for more compromise beyond the offer they had done at the dinner both leaders were invited at the Crocodile restaurant in Strasbourg last month.
“This letter of thanks and gratitude to your special interest in Albania is at the same time a prayer that you do not leave aside your hopeful initiative despite the negative end of the first stage,” Rama said.
This week Rama also went to the United States to take part at a meeting of the Socialist International, the leftist political grouping convening all leftist parties of the world.
The leftist leaders supported the Albanian Socialists in their request for the country’s vote transparency and regretted Tirana’s government lack of will for a compromise.