Political Deadlock Zero Progress

TIRANA, March 17 – Are the two main political parties – governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and main opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama – set to resolve the political crises that may cause many problems to the country’s integration efforts and more?
If looking at the recent development one could clearly say “NO.”
The two political parties quarrelled again at the parliamentary commission this week. The Democrats made some amendments to the draft law proposed by the opposition, a move that caused the Socialists to leave the room.
The opposition Socialists insist that without recounting a number of ballot boxes the transparency of the June 28 parliamentary election cannot be achieved.
The next day the Socialists decided to take part in the parliament’s session on Thursday to further debate on the issue, saying they have made an offer and could discuss only if its essence – vote recount – is not excluded.
Their leader Rama also made public a letter to Berisha. He clearly repeats such a call that elections should be held once and for all without manipulation. Rama says that the opposition is not asking for the change of the June 28 results but only for their transparency, as they had agreed before the polls with the constitutional amendments on the electoral law.
The Democrats, who control 75 seats of the 140-seat parliament, insist that vote recount means violating the constitution.
So what’s going on in their fight? Just rhetoric? Who is going to resolve the fight? The two parties have shown during the last 19 years of democracy, following the fall of the communist regime, they are unable to do that.
It was the country’s president Bamir Topi who started a mediation role and managed to give an end to the opposition boycott.
But, to be frank, it was not him personally with his personality who convinced the two parties.
It was the direct interference of the international community, this time through the Council of Europe but also with an increased direct role of the European Union through its ambassadors.
At the moment it seems that Topi is again out of the game. He again called Wednesday for a “re-installation of the political dialogue.”
“It is obligatory that people cooperate because we really expect for important reforms so that Albania consequently continues the road toward membership into the European Union,” Topi said while visiting the old city of Berat.
More pressure is coming this week. Last week EU senior official Pierre Mirel said that both parties should reach a compromise until March 18, that is Thursday when the parliament holds its regular session.
That date was not set in vain.
The next day new EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele holds his first visit to the country along with a Balkan tour.
Commissioner Fuele declared, “I strongly hope that the stalemate surrounding the active participation of the Socialist Party members of Parliament can be solved before my visit and I will call on all political leaders to work together so that Albania can fully embark in the reforms necessary for the sake of its people, as well as for its European aspiration”.
That is what a statement from the European Commission delegation office wrote Wednesday.
That is an open warning to these politicians who should understand that the country cannot get the candidate status or the visa free regime if its domestic politics is not mature enough and in line with European democratic standards.
Unless they learn such a process, then it would not be a surprise for Brussels to just postpone its decisions on those Albanian goals. Consequently common Albanians will further turn their eyes to God. Their elected politicians have diplomatic passports which need no visas. They do.