TIRANA – The confusion amidst opposition on its participation in the talks on the electoral reform might be considered cleared up by the confirmation of the head of the Movement for National Development (MND), Dashamir Shehi, a tiny ally of the Democratic Party (DP), that the opposition is determined not to leave the round-table meetings on Electoral Reform.
Shehi, a former deputy PM when DP was in power, told the media that the opposition would continue protests as a follow up of their stance against government’s demolition of the building of the National Theater on May 17. He also announced that there will be other motivated protests against the Rama regime.
MND’s head made that statement after the united opposition had a meeting with President Ilir Meta on Thursday. The President had a meeting with EU Ambassadors after that with the representatives of the united opposition.
“The President informed us about the new situation which is filled with political tensions. DP’s Basha informed him that the opposition will continue the political fight over the Theater. There is a moral reaction, but the opposition does not intend to leave the political participation for the Electoral Reform. Because we believe that the way to come to power is through free voting,” said Shehi.
He took the opportunity to make public that the US embassy has made a good proposal on the reformation of the electoral system – the regional proportional system with preferential voting.
A day earlier (Wednesday) the DP chairman, Basha told journalists that he was not aware of any US plan on the electoral system, but Shehi said on Thursday that the proposal must be taken seriously.
“We need to look at the official US proposal. It is important. We have a strong desire to take it to the Political Council. With any system, there is no guarantee that Rama will not get involved with criminals, what system can protect us from the violence of 2017,” said Shehi.
However the DP’s tiny ally confirmed that the opposition insisted on its proposed 5 points which includes as the most important one the creation of a transitional government three months before the general elections. “So anyone who is in opposition should be calm, that is, a government that cares about the elections,” said NMD’s head. /argumentum.al
