After Meeting Ambassador Kim DP’s Basha Ready for Deal on Electoral Reform

TIRANA – In an unexpected move on Albania’s political scene on a very controversial antagonism like the electoral reform the opposition Democratic Party (DP) expressed itself fully ready to conclude the deal with the ruling Socialist Party (SP) within the deadline which is May 31,2020.
This pledge came on Tuesday after DP head Lulzim Basha met US Ambassador to Albania, Yuri Kim.
Basha announced in a press conference that the opposition will do everything to complete the reform within the deadline, while he said that the opposition wants to go to the polls as soon as possible.
It is not clear if DP’s Basha has given up the previous red line, which is the creation of the transitional government before the holding of the general election next year, or early elections.
“Organizing free and fair elections is an absolute priority. Elections have to be carried out as soon as possible, unaffected by the gangs, by the vote buying, the corruption money. We are determined for this battle and we are determined to complete Electoral Reform by May 31st, in order for this crisis to be resolved so that Albanians can choose the parliament and the government they want,” Basha said after meeting US diplomatic envoy to Tirana.
A political commission on the electoral reform has been deadlocked on many issues raised by opposition with the latter being tough saying it would not tolerate mmajority’s manipulations.
In the meantime US Ambassador Kim stated Tuesday afternoon that Albanian politicians must meet citizens’ expectations and wrap up the Electoral Reform until May 31, 2020.
The Ambassador underlined this is not a timeline by the US Embassy or anyone else, but it is something that the people’s representatives have vowed to do.
Mr. Kim has recently spoken out of ‘unnamed’ politicians preventing reforms both in judiciary and electoral system in this Balkan country.
Majority and opposition leaders have claimed their names are not meant by Mr. Kim.
After Tuesday’s meeting with Basha the US Ambassador said that the opposition had hard work ahead, but she felt encouraged by the discussion with DP chairman, who heads the so called United Opposition.
“We just had a very good meeting. I was very pleased to have the chance to meet with the opposition leader Mr. Lulzim Basha. Our discussion was about the future, not the past. In particular, we spoke about the importance of how Albanian leaders must fulfill the expectations of the Albanian people, as promised, to complete the electoral reform by May 31. This is not a deadline set by the United States Embassy or any other external factor. This is a deadline set by the leaders themselves. The opposition has a very difficult job ahead of them, but I feel very encouraged by the discussion we had this afternoon and look forward to the results”, she said. /argumentum.al