TIRANA – The opposition Democratic Party (DP) head, Lulzim Basha has accused the PM and Socialist Party (SP) head, Edi Rama of breaking the accord on the electoral reform reached by majority and united opposition on June 5 this year.
The deal was achieved with the intensive mediation of the US and the EU.
“Today he (Edi Rama) has broken the June 5 agreement between the political forces whose achievement was made possible by the mediation of the EU, the US and Great Britain,” said Basha.
This statement was made after PM Rama declared in a lengthy news conference on Friday saying that the accord on the electoral reform of June 5 could not be voted if the principle to not approve changes 1 year before the elections is followed. According to him, a year has passed as there is one more parliamentary session left.
For his part Basha said that the agreement was central for reaching consensus on the electoral reform, a condition for the opening of Albania’s accession negotiations with the EU. “One of the records that he will break is that of an outgoing prime minister who is more terrified than anyone else.”
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi called on Friday for the adoption of the electoral reform in line with June 5 consensus as soon as possible.
But Rama replied to the Commissioner saying that he understood foreign friends that don’t know the procedural aspect, but he could not understand the DP spokespersons’ ultimatums that push for the swift adoption of the agreement.
The gist of Rama’s news conference was majority’s support for the establishment of a 5 percent parliamentary threshold and the denial of the right on the creation of pre-electoral coalitions to political forces. Analysts consider these moves as an attempt by the PM to create an electoral advantage for SP in the upcoming general elections set to be held in summer next year.
In his reaction DP’s Basha claimed that Rama took such a step to break the agreement because he is seized by the fear and anxiety of losing the upcoming elections. Not losing hope Basha said Rama will not be in power anymore and that is the reason why he has been caught by panic. /argumentum.al
