On Sunday in Albania, local elections will take place, probably. The Opposition boycotted the vote and will not compete with their own candidates. The country is currently experiencing a veritable crisis of the state.
Albania’s conservative Opposition, since the weeks on the road against the government mobile
The local elections are anything other than pluralistic. The Alliance of the Opposition, led by the “Democratic party” (PD), a sister party of the Confederation of the European people’s party, boycotted the elections. Four months earlier, the Opposition had returned en bloc, their mandates, and the parliamentary rules adopted. Since then, the opposition parties pull up with their trailers on the road. At the last election in 2015, the Opposition scored 48 percent of the vote. This is why in Albania this vote rather than acclamation for or against the socialist government. Because of the boycott of the Opposition is not against the candidate from their ranks to compete in these elections.
The US and the EU criticize the boycott of the election, mainly due to the withdrawal from the Parliament. You acknowledge the government of Rama and the elections of 2017. The EU Commission considers that the decision of the Opposition, in particular with a view to the implementation of the EU-accession negotiations, the necessary reforms as counterproductive. In numerous appeals to the EU and the US have pointed out, the conservative Opposition to the fact that such actions endanger the democratic System.
The security holds a position on Sunday to be at risk: the President of Ilir Meta
The Opposition withdrew from the Parliament because of the government’s fraud, corruption and election in the parliamentary elections of 2017 through the purchase of votes, accuses. They are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and early elections. All of this does not want to accept the Albanian Prime Minister, and denies the allegations.
The trigger for the boycott of Parliament, the publication of some Abhörmitschnitte of the Albanian public Prosecutor’s office, which were recorded before the parliamentary elections in 2017 was. There are several socialist politicians, including the Prime Rama are listening to yourself. The recordings suggest the suspicion that votes were bought, with the Knowledge of the Prime Minister Rama. The Opposition considered the wiretap recordings as evidence of vote-buying, while the government speaks only of circumstantial evidence. The Prime Minister accuses the Opposition of blackmail and wants to sue the German tabloid “Bild” published later wiretap recordings,.
The constitutional order is in danger
In the meantime, the country is in a veritable constitutional crisis. Mainly because for months, the constitutional court is no longer functional. Curiously, this is a result of the prescribed by the EU judge and the state attorney examination (Vetting procedure) for the Albania, previously a lot of praise has been. A relaxation in the crisis of the state could not be achieved, as at 27. June state President Ilir Meta had announced a new election date for October. Meta had previously cancelled the election for this Sunday. His justification: The national safety and order is through the polarization of society in danger. Meta is of the opinion that the elections on Sunday can’t be in this Situation.
Want the “image”-newspaper” sue: Prime Minister Edi Rama (at the end of April Merkel in Berlin)
The electoral College argues, however, that Meta had no power, the original choice of the date of repeal. For the governing socialist party, the decision of the President is unconstitutional and therefore a danger to the constitutional order. The Parliament has now established a procedure for the dismissal of the President.
Unrest feared
The signs are pointing to confrontation. Several polling stations were opened in the last few days, in flames, police forces were attacked. A further escalation is not excluded. The Opposition wants to prevent the participation in the elections and has developed a “strategy of civil disobedience”. For this, she has created citizens ‘ committees, which – as the Opposition to protect democracy.
The dice are fallen
Alea iacta est – The die is cast. The elections are to take place. In particular, the potential for conflict, there are nevertheless signs that could be able to relax after the election on Sunday. The EU and the US, the support Albania in the reform of the judiciary, especially in a quick resumption of the Supreme constitutional court. This could then solve the legitimacy disputes institutionally. That would make the way free so that the Opposition takes its seats in the Parliament.