TIRANA, March 18 – The Democratic Party of Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha and the governing Socialist-led leftist coalition of Prime Minister Edi Rama have continued the exchange of accusations over the performance of law enforcement officials and alleged ties of political actors and crime.
The Democrats blame the government of mismanagement and accuse police of being politically affiliated and not doing their job well.
This week, the Democrats said a Latin American man wanted for drug trafficking had been able to escape a police operation, indicating he was warned.
There were also claims that a ruling coalition lawmaker, Mark Frroku, had prevented police from checking his car where he had allegedly hidden a wanted drug dealer last year.
Frroku’s brother is currently undergoing a trial in which he faces life imprisonment in connection with the assassination of a police official.
Frroku is also involved in the Tom Doshi affair. Doshi, an expelled Socialist MP, has accused Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta of setting up a murder plot against him and a Democratic Party colleague.
Frroku, Doshi said, had notified him of the plot, but Frroku has denied the statement.