Finding the right balance in the process of removing immunity for state officials to fight corruption requires trust from both sides, but the recent serious accusations show there is little trust left between the government and opposition.
Tirana Times editorial
TIRANA, July 19 – In some of the most serious accusations levied on the government ever by the opposition, senior Socialist Party figures, including its leader, Edi Rama, have accused the the government several times last week that it is using Ministry of Defense structures to spy on the phone calls of opposition members and foreign diplomats.
Such serious accusations would require a proper investigation in any democratic country. And the results would be made public. Albanians deserve the same.
The Albanian opposition is accusing the Ministry of Defense of flagrant unconstitutional surveillance done by the structures of the armed forces. There has been little proof presented so far, other than media articles showing the Ministry of Defense has purchased the necessary equipment to conduct such surveillance.
However, no government can remain credible and legitimate if such serious accusations are no clarified.
On the other hand, no serious opposition in a democratic country, in particular in a NATO member, would dare to invent such accusations.
It’s important to bear in mind that Albania, as a NATO member country, is not allowed to have its armed forces engaged in such unconstitutional activity. In that context, it is not just the Albanian public and institutions that need to know the truth, but the alliance as well.
The opposition also accuses the government of trying to prevent the appropriate parliamentary committee from performing its supervising role on the Ministry of Defense. In any democratic country certain members of parliament, regardless of the party in which they belong, are given clearance on such matters, and Albania should be no different.
An investigation in necessary. It should be conducted, and its results should be made public.
It is the only way to proceed as in the path of last week’s accusations and counter-accusations, there seems to be little room for reliable truth.
And all this is happening at a time when parties are debating in parliament on the abolition or restriction of immunity from prosecution for state officials, including members of parliament.
It’s a move that will help in cases when it is used as a shield against fighting corruption, and, as a result, will help Albania in its goal to join the European Union.
However, the process should not be rushed through, it should fully satisfy EU requirements and furthermore, it should not be misused as a political tool to exert pressure or threats on the votes of members of parliament.
Corruption is wide spread in Albania. Fighting the culture that allows it to flourish is far more important than changing the constitution to remove immunity for members of parliament, which in cases of accusations of corruption should obviously be properly investigated and prosecuted.
Finding the right balance between all these elements will require some trust from both sides.
However, if anything, the accusations that have hit the Ministry of Defense, show there is a complete lack of trust between the government and opposition and the latest accusations perpetuate the conflict between them – regardless of the costs to the country.
