Parliament turns down investigation Berisha’s property

TIRANA, Sept. 27 – The parliament voted against creating an investigative committee to check the property statements of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and those of his family members. The parliament voted 67 against, a figure that also spoke of other developments in the governing majority. Spartak Ngjela of the Democrats, Nikolle Lesi of the Christian Democrats and a few others of the Human Rights Union Party who normally belong to the majority group, abstained, though didn’t vote in favor of the request of 35 Socialist parliamentarians. The debate Tuesday evening turned very hot with parliamentarians from both sides attacking each other even with nasty words or gestures. The opposition Socialists insisted they were entitled to create an investigative committee and check Berisha’s properties. But the majority Democrats said that was in contradiction with another investigative commission that was created more than a week ago to check properties of all senior officials, including Berisha. They said they could not have two commissions for the same goal. When it was voted for the content and purpose of the commission Democrats in majority voted it down. But opposition Socialists insisted they would not abandon their request to check Berisha. The prime minister on his side made a surprise presence during the debate Tuesday to declare he was not afraid to be checked from them, even ‘in three generations’ and from a commission made up of only Socialist members. As usual it seemed a play of words with the person himself saying he agreed to the commission while his party disagreed with it.
Besides the voting showed there were less numbers for the majority. True that was a special case but it also showed the majority was not so strongly built around each other. Everything is considered taking into consideration presidential election next year when the majority needs to have 84 votes.
At the same time there were fights between the leader of the Agrarian Environmentalist Party Lufter Xhuveli, also minister of environment, and another of his party’s parliamentarians who claimed he was threatened with a pistol from Xhuveli not to come out against him. Nikollaq Nerenxi had asked Xhuveli to be more present at the party and prepare it for the local elections, which turned into a conflict between them. Their party has three members of parliament who could be decisive in many voting in the parliament.
Nard Ndoka of the Christian Democrats, in support of Lesi, said that the opposition request was constitutional and was in favor of creating that. He compared this case to that of the former Socialist premier Fatos Nano. Ndoka said that he was not understanding the strategy of the majority, why all these empty debates had to be held. If the parliament does not give to the opposition the right to check the prime minister, then it is not a parliament any more, said Democratic Party parliamentarian Spartak Ngjela, who threatened he would abandon parliament voting if the constitution was violated.
On the other side the Democrats have insistently appealed to the opposition Socialists to be present and take part at the works of the other investigative commission. Astrit Patozi said that the majority had made it clear that the Socialists would have a free hand to operate in the commission.
Opposition Socialists and their allies were in full agreement to continue asking for the investigative committee saying they would insist on that in the coming parliament sessions. They also hinted they may resume again the physical blocking of the parliament works.