Former Socialist FM Pleased with “Political and Institutional Cooperation” in Albania

TIRANA – Former foreign minister Ditmir Bushati has expressed his pleasure that there has been cooperation between political forces which has been concrete in the process of the approval of some changes to the Criminal Code in Albania.

Mr. Bushati, a lawmaker of the ruling Socialist Party (SP), who was very close to PM Edi Rama until a year ago when contradictions worsened between them, made that comment in a live talk show on News 24 TV on Saturday.

Asked about the amendments to the Criminal Code regarding the toughing of the sentences to people who violate quarantine situation Bushati said the entire discussion on the criminal or civil codes should be careful and the process should take place in consultation at the usual time. “But we are in a situation unprecedented pandemic,” he said, adding that it was important that cooperation had been achieved.

“It should be noted that the proposals reached a political and institutional cooperation. So it’s time for our institutions to show capacity to implement the Code,” said Bushati. “The criminal code is one of those laws that are amended or changed once every few decades. At the usual time, the entire discussion in the criminal or civil code should be careful and the process should take place in consultation. But we are in a situation of pandemic, unprecedented. It should be noted that the proposals reached a political and institutional cooperation. So it’s time for our institutions to show capacity to implement the code.”

Bushati, who is currently the head of the OSCE parliamentary delegation of Albania, did not mention by name the political institutions involved in the ‘cooperation’, something which PM Edi Rama did not hesitate to make public on April 16 this year before parliament’s vote.

The changes to the Criminal Code, which were adopted last Thursday by a plenary session of Parliament, have been ‘harmonized’ with experts of Parliament, President and parliamentary groups, said Rama. “We have had a long but useful meeting of the National Security Council to address this need on time, and we have discussed even with the President to avoid obstacles or proceedings delay,” Rama told journalists outside of parliamentary hall after his speech on April 16 this year. According to him, it has been achieved a conclusion which addresses also the legitimate concerns expressed by other factors, but the legitimate necessity of this moment, too. Rama revealed that they were ‘harmonized’ through the experts of Parliament and of the judicial office of the President and other parliamentary groups.

The former FM showed concern over the care which should be shown in relation to human rights in the articles on the non-compliance with quarantine.

Answering a question about the performance of the PM, Bushati did not have a direct opinion but a diplomatic one by saying: “When you ask me about the prime minister, I believe that no one is perfect in this very tense situation, because it is a very broad issue. The virus is global, the solution is local,” said Bushati.

An issue in the discussion during the TV talk show was the situation of the businesses at the time of the lockdown and Bushati believed that businesses should not be stigmatized, and, according to him, small businesses need special support.

“We have to do things that are economically viable,” said the former veteran Socialist lawmaker in whose opinion the state budget is the sum of the contributions of citizens and businesses “Business must be supported and it must understand that after the pandemic, the world will be different,” he said but did not elaborate on what would change in relation to Albania.

But the former FM was clear cut when he declared that the government continues to support 10-15 companies close to it neglecting small businesses. “Businesses should be supported equally.”

“Our economy is fragile… Not all actors will be happy. We are in a crisis situation. We see again 10-15 businessmen, who have received tenders, while there are other businesses that simply earn daily money. Those big companies that have to contribute should be seen. I do not want to call them oligarchs, but the fact is that a close group of beneficiaries operate in Albania and they should contribute effectively,” said Bushati.

Speaking of the controversial issues of tests for the coronavirus pandemic he said more tests should be done because that would serve better to overcome the situation. “As far as I have followed what experts say no one puts in doubt that more tests should be carried out and more measures should be taken to track the pandemic,” Bushati said. /argumentum.al