Tirana Times
TIRANA, May 25 – The opposition Socialist Party returned to the Albanian parliament Monday, ending a boycott over an alleged electoral fraud nearly a year ago.
The Socialists had also ended their boycott at the end of February but last month they resumed it after the start of the hunger strike asking for the partial recount in places where they claim the vote was rigged by the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha last year.
Gramoz Ruci of the Socialists said at the parliament that opening the ballot boxes and creating the investigative commission should not be opposed by the majority Democrats.
“Two weeks are more than enough to resolve the disagreements. I stress that dialogue is an insurmountable instrument,” said Ruci speaking at the parliament.
He added that if the opposition requests found no response from the Democrats, the opposition would be forced to return to the protests.
Ruci also reminded members of parliament that not solving the crisis will mean grave consequences for the country and its integration efforts into the European Union.
Astrit Patozi of the governing Democrats also said they were ready for the election transparency but, he added, without violating the laws and the Constitution.
“Within that context there is a great space for agreement and good understanding. Outside that none can and should dare try it,” he said.
Patozi also said that ultimatums serve to no one and resolve nothing. “The language of force is counter productive and archaic politics,” he said.
Socialists returned to the legislature and ended protests, which included a hunger strike by a group of 200 legislators and supporters, after Prime Minister Sali Berisha last week agreed to negotiate the recount of ballots from the June 2009 poll.
The two sides came under pressure from the European Union to resolve their dispute and unblock the parliament’s work. Brussels gave Albania two weeks to end the row.
One of Europe’s poorest countries, Albania joined NATO last year, but its path to EU membership remains blocked because of lagging reforms and problems, such as marred elections.
The return was also marked by serious verbal clashes, and in one case it took security guards to stop a physical clash between two lawmakers.
The lack of the opposition lawmakers at the parliament, where they have 65 seats together with their single ally, has stymied some EU-related reforms.
The Socialists also ended their hunger strike last week following pressure from the European Union.
Their leader, Edi Rama, together with Berisha, were invited to dinner in Strasbourg by heads of European Parliament’s political groupings Joseph Daul and Martin Schulz as well as Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele.
They now have a two-week window to reach a compromise on the political conflict.
“Albania stands at a crucial moment on its path towards the EU integration (…) It is high time to find a solution to the current crisis on a basis which will stand the test of time. Albania’s prospects should not be further affected by a continuation of the status quo,” read a joint statement from Fuele and High Representative Catherine Ashton. “Also, a range of domestic challenges require political courage. The EU is seriously concerned about the continuing political stalemate. We are concerned about the dysfunctional parliament and the possible systemic effects across their institutions.”
Rama says no word game, compromise is on table
Socialist leader Edi Rama came out Tuesday to call on the governing Democrats not to delay but agree on the compromise that is already on the table.
He said it is known that the draft proposal, likely given from the European Union at the last informal dinner in Strasbourg, means opening the voting documentation and then it is up to the Venice Commission to decide whether some ballot boxes may be open for recount of not.
But the Democrats say that if the voting documentation is open then the ballot boxes should be burnt, as the law says.
Rama insisted that the work should proceed fast within the two weeks, given the deadline from the EU to resolve the crisis and reach a compromise.
Rama talks with Topi
Opposition Socialist leader Edi Rama asked for and held a meeting Tuesday with President Bamir Topi.
It was only learnt that the meeting was held following a request from the opposition leader. Neither Rama nor Topi or their offices gave any statement on the talks. That is generally understood that the talks revolved around the existing political conflict in the country.
