TIRANA, May 1 – As the country’s political crisis has hit the point of no return ahead of elections, several senior Democratic Party lawmakers have criticized the opposition party’s leader, Lulzim Basha, opposing his decision to boycott elections.
Former deputy chairperson of the Democratic Party and former parliament speaker, Jozefina Topalli, has repeatedly called for urgent meeting of the party’s parliamentary group to discuss on the possible participation of the Democrats in the polls and the political cost of DP’s refusal to attend the elections scheduled for June 18.
Meanwhile, MP Majlinda Bregu, a former integration ministers, took to social media and publicly criticized Basha for his decision to boycott parliament. She said that her voice might resemble to lone person in a desert, but she hopes that her party will participate in the elections.
“I can no longer be silent. Our European allies have withdrawn support because ‘we do not want to help ourselves.’ Joseph Daul and European People’s Party want the DP in parliament to vote justice reform and in elections,” Bregu noted, calling on Basha to revoke his decision to boycott elections. “DP is a pro-western party.”
Bregu’s concerns were echoed by former Democratic Party chairman, Eduard Selami, who said that Basha is using the tent erected at the boulevard to bypass institutions and boycott the parliament at a crucial moment for the country.
In an interview for Voice of America, Selami underlined the importance of justice reform for the future of Albania.
“I have noted that Mr. Basha did not use the tent for peaceful protests but for populist rhetoric and inappropriate language, to bypass institutions and worse, to boycott the parliament at such an important moment involving the implementation of justice reform, closely linked to Albania’s EU integration,” Selami said. “This is an unprecedented rhetoric to block and boycott elections, which damages Albania, Democratic Party and the Albanian cause.”
Basha said the party is large enough for critical voices and urged his supporters not to publicly attack the three veteran Democratic Party politicians for their critical stance.
In his address to party supporters gathered at the tent, Basha accused Rama of trying to rig the elections, and said DP will continue with its plans for civil disobedience.
“Our civil disobedience will expand to every city, every neighborhood and village and will peak on June 18 when united Albanians will take control over Albania, a country that belongs to citizens and not to crime, drugs and this government,” Basha said.
