The EU wants consensus, not using a referendum on the three laws for political divisiveness.
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL
Tirana, Mar. 10 – If there was any doubt about whether the passage of three laws that the opposition has blocked in parliament for months were holding Albania’s EU integration back, the words of EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule this week have laid them to rest, not using a referendum on the three laws for political divisiveness and as part of an electoral campaign for the next parliamentary elections.
However, that hasn’t stopped Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his ruling Democratic Party from moving forward plans for a referendum that would placed the three laws’ approval directly to voters.
The three laws – which deal with the judiciary, public administration, and rules of procedure for parliament – have been blocked by the opposition Socialists not because they disagree with their content but in protest of government actions in implementing other laws. In essence, they are hostage to the government and opposition not reaching consensus.
And while the three laws are not a requirement for moving the EU process forward, consensus is indeed mandatory, Mr. Fule has pointed out in his comments. He also said the governments’ goal for a referendum went “against the spirit of inclusiveness.” EU and U.S. Ambassadors to Tirana, referred to Fule’s comments when asked about this issue – saying he had said it all and that they agreed with his stance.
After gently diplomatically pushing Albanian leaders for consensus and evading the governing Democratic Party’s push to trap Brussels to take sides in the electoral campaign that has already started, Fule has had to finally state it clearly that the government should not push for a referendum, which would be pointless at this time.
This newspaper agrees. The use of this issue for electoral reasons, and using EU integration to promote political divisiveness and conflict is the last thing this country need.
In addition, because Albanian laws clearly prohibit holding a referendum so close to the parliamentary elections, it would take a year before a vote on the three laws would take place, and the political environment will likely be very different after the elections, which makes the government’s instance on the referendum clearly symbolic.
It is part of the Democratic Party’s attempt to portray the opposition as anti-European and as holding the country back from the EU path. That interpretation is a clear stretch. While the opposition has not been as constructive as it could be to support Albania’s development, as a ruling party, the Democrats can not see their record as good when it comes to EU integration. After all, Albania has failed three times to get a positive response from Brussels since it applied for candidate status in 2009.
The three laws became a political ploy to save face. As part of a PR stunt, Parliamentary Speaker Jozefina Topalli installed an electronic board in front of her office counting the minutes the opposition had delayed EU integration. One of the posters says “Three Laws = Europe.” If only that statement was true…
At the end of the day, according to studies by the Albanian Institute for International Studies, roughly 90 percent of Albanians say they would vote “yes” if a referendum for EU membership were held tomorrow. Holding that particular referendum as soon as possible should be the goal, not using the process for political gain.
