Tit-for-tat politics

TIRANA, June 14 – Albanians learn that Europe has set a mid-week time limit to the two political groupings to resolve their political conflict.
That means that the governing Democratic party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and main opposition Socialist party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama should sit down, talk, quarrel, call names, physically attack, or love each other, do whatever they want, but give an end to the political deadlock or crisis (whatever is liked by each of them).
Unless they want Europe to say that not only your questionnaire on the candidate status but also the visa liberalization process may be frozen until you reach a compromise.
True that is not fair because common Albanians will suffer from the lack of a visa to travel abroad as the politicians have diplomatic passports that need no such visas.
But very likely Albanians will also think more and decide well when casting their ballot.
Opposition Socialists claim Democrats manipulated part of the counting process and they want a partial recount.
Democrats say that would be against the laws and the constitution as none could doubt the verdicts of the Electoral College.
The socialists first boycotted, then held protests and also a hunger strike.
Until the European Commission and the European Parliament called both leaders for a dinner in Strasbourg at the Crocodile restaurant. (Do you know that a restaurant by that name has long existed in the Albanian port city of Vlora as well! So why not European officials holding the next meeting there.)
But Europe’s calls, appeals, pressure seem, for the moment to have given no positive results in resolving the crisis.
Both sides insist on their stands.
Rama said this weekend that the Socialists would not vote in parliament, where they have returned, for the much needed reform draft laws unless the transparency of the vote is secured. About two dozen draft laws, including half of them asking for a three-fifth vote (which can be secured only if the opposition is present and votes in parliament) are still waiting. More than that.
Both political groupings have now turned to the country’s economy too. They probably think of next year’s local elections.
The opposition says that the government is taking the country to ruins, increasing its debt and making poor Albanians poorer. Rama insisted they will try hard not to let the government take another loan of $300 million this month. They add their accusation of corruption starting from Berisha.
Berisha, on his side, the next day makes the same accusation against Rama. He says that Tirana city hall has quadrupled taxes on the population and even threatened to issue laws not to let them do it any more.
If you listen separately to each of them, one may think this is the proper leader, the one who takes care of me, of my life and my money.
But hopefully Albanians are not that stupid and try hard, double check, triple consider their possibilities when they vote for the new leaders next year.