Socialists complain to EU officials on no progress

TIRANA, Nov. 1 – The main opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama has sent a letter to the heads of the political groupings at the European Parliament and the EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele, complaining that the governing Democrats have done nothing to comply with the suggestions they made in May to give an end to the political stalemate in Albania.
Socialist parliamentary group leader Gramoz Ruci said in the letter to Joseph Daul and Martin Schulz that elections last year were not deformed due to the electoral code but from its violation by the governing Democrats
Besides the accusation, the letter also criticized the governing Democrats of a series of other violations of the parliamentary life and laws, including corruption and non-punishment of the organized crime.
The Socialists also mentioned the murder of the head of a commune in northeastern Albania, saying it was committed for political reasons as the dead was affiliated with the opposition.
“Albania is in a deep political and institutional crisis stemming from the deformation of the June 28, 2009 elections,” says the letter.
The Socialists want a partial recount, an idea turned down by the Democrats who consider it a violation of the laws.
The Socialists also want a total investigation of the last year’s polls.
Last week, the opposition Socialist Party walked out of another parliament session setting a number of conditions for their return.
Ruci said the opposition wanted the government to back off plans to demolish the Pyramid Building, a symbol built during communism. He also requested an investigation into the recent killings of two SP officials, a probe of the 2009 elections, and a halt to procedures aimed at ending lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution.
Political life in Albania has been mired in an impasse since the June 2009 elections. The opposition Socialists and their allies want ballot boxes re-opened; the ruling coalition disagrees, and the resulting standoff has held up the legislative process.
EU officials have regularly warned that Albania’s EU prospects are being harmed.
There have always been doubtful signals that the two sides may be inching towards a solution, though whether anything concrete comes of it remains to be seen, and the tone of discussions remains combative.
Edi Rama, leader of the Socialists, made a surprise decision last week to attend a meeting called by Prime Minister Sali Berisha to discuss the crisis. He brought with him what he described as an “ultimatum.”
It calls for setting up a commission to investigate problems with the election, such as an alleged lack of policing.
Rama said the opposition is committed to implementing a July 8 resolution by the European Parliament, which “deplores the political crisis” in Albania and “strongly urges all political sides to assume their responsibilities.”
On Monday the governing Democrats responded officially but practically making no step ahead.
They repeated they agree for an investigative commission but it cannot probe everything the Socialists want (that is, the partial recount).
That leaves the stalemate, or the deadlock (Democrats are against the word ‘crisis’ at this moment, which is being used by the opposition) in place. No progress at a time when it is need also for next year’s local authorities elections.
Specific steps called for in the resolution include conducting dialogue on a new electoral law to ensure transparency in future polls, and setting up a parliamentary committee of inquiry to investigate the June 2009 vote.
The international community has mediated time and again and has also said that if the ruling and opposition parties can’t find a solution to the impasse, they should look to outside mediation.
Berisha told Rama they can start the investigation of the elections but ask the Constitutional Court if ballot boxes should be open or not. That Court, on its side, may turn to the Venice Commission.
Berisha repeated his government’s readiness to implement any court verdict and also said the opposition would be invited to formulate amendments designed to make the electoral process more secure.
The Socialists, who have been staging parliamentary boycotts and public demonstrations, say they have called these off for the time being until the European Union gave the positive response for the visa liberalization, which is Nov. 8 or 9.
But there have been media reports that the political stalemate will be considered as the main obstacle for the country’s refusal of its request for the candidate status with the EU.