Opposition to ask for fresh elections

TIRANA, Nov. 2 – The leader of the main opposition Socialist Party, Edi Rama, said Tuesday opposition parties would resume nationwide protests to move the governing Democratic Party out of power and ask for early elections.
The announcement follows a negative answer by the Democrats to the opposition’s requests for a total investigation of last year’s parliamentary elections.
The opposition wants a partial recount at the basis of their requests which is considered illegal from the governing Democrats who say the courts have already ruled.
The Socialists had postponed resuming of the protests until later next week after the European Union’s Council of Ministers takes the decision on the visa liberalization for the country.
Rama said the request for fresh early elections is “the only way to give an answer to all the problems… to give a new governing opportunity with a new model to the people where all are equal to the law.”
The opposition has practically almost paralyzed the parliamentary life as they do not take part in any voting (with the exception of one on lifting parliamentary immunity of one of their lawmakers). They say that vote transparency comes prior to any other issues as it is the basis of the democratic process and governing in the country.
They claim vote count manipulation last year, though they say they don’t want to change the results of the election.
The two political groupings in the country have not managed to reach a compromise, despite international presence and mediation.
The Council of Europe, the office of the EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and western powers have always insisted with both sides that they need to reach a compromise.
It is also needed for the electoral reform ahead of the local authorities elections to be held in May next year and for the major reforms the country needs along its road of integration into the European Union.
Due to the political stalemate it is very likely that the EU will give a negative answer to the country’s request for the candidate status it filed since April last year, prior to elections.
The opposition’s parliamentary boycott, street protests, hunger strike and vote boycott at the parliament has not managed to convince the governing Democrats to abide by their requests.
Prospects show the future could be no different, despite voices among the opposition of also boycotting the next local authorities elections.