Smaller political parties looking for new coalitions

TIRANA, Aug 5 – Smaller parties making up the coalition from both sides of the country’s political spectrum, including the governing Democratic Party and the main opposition Socialist Party, are now considering and appealing to the larger allies to reconsider the make up of the coalitions.
Skender Gjinushi of the Social Democrats (a Socialist ally), said all leftist parties should join forces for next year’s general elections.
The leftist coalition had been divided after the Socialist Movement for Integration of Ilir Meta said it would run alone, unless the Socialists stop cooperating with Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democrats, which began in April with its cooperation on constitutional amendments on a new voting system.
Neritan Ceka of the Democratic Alliance, also part of the leftist coalition, has said he will never again cooperate with the Socialist unless their leader, Edi Rama, changed course.
The new electoral code will be based on a regional proportional system, which threatens smaller parties.
On the other side, the governing Democrats have also noted developments. Tritan Shehu, of the New Democratic party, has said they are open to merge with the governing Democratic party as there is not much difference between them.
Christian Democrats, with Nard Ndoka, said they will continue to remain in the governing coalition, though he personally was fired from the post of health minister as a result of the last reshuffle. They insisted they want a post in the cabinet or they may change their policy.
This year will likely see many internal developments in the two coalitions, as they prepare themselves for the next parliamentary polls.