Tirana Times
TIRANA, Sep. 6 – The parliament resumed its work after the summer vacation with a plenary session that served to showcase the newly-reconstructed hall and also for the two political groupings to show they are determined and steadfast in their political stands.
The new hall offers a clear division in two groupings with the placement of the seats. That could spark a reaction from the smaller parties asking for a more prominent place for them.
After the opening from the speaker, Gramoz Ruci of the opposition Socialists took the floor. He first reacted saying they are determined to give a solution to the alleged manipulation claims of last year’s polls. To continue then with the criticism of the government’s show of well being of the country. He said they were determined to resolve and make transparent the parliamentary polls and threatened they could turn to streets if not pleased.
The two groupings are in a dispute on alleged vote count manipulation between the governing Democrats, controlling 75 of the parliament’s 140 seats, and the main opposition Socialist Party with 65 seats.
The Socialists have threatened to resume street protests demanding a partial vote recount. Democrats have refused the demand.
Ruci said they have already made the requests and were waiting for a response. But that would not be for ever and he said they could ask the people give the solution.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha was fast to respond that they were open to a parliamentary investigative commission that would be headed and with a majority from the opposition.
He also turned down that the threat of protests.
The question remains whether the ballots should be recounted, as the opposition is asking, or not, as the governing Democrats say.
Socialists say they would agree to whatever decision the Venice Commission would give. But the Democrats did not agree with what they said was the Socialists’ request to first ask the Albanian Constitutional Court give an opinion on the issue within ten days.
