Albania’s Socialist opposition ended a three-day protest in the capital, Tirana, with demands to the Prime Minister that contested election ballot boxes be opened.
The mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama, who led the protest, issued a 10-day deadline to Prime Minister Sali Berisha to allow the boxes to be opened, for a partial recount of disputed votes cast in the June parliamentary election.
Thousands had gathered throughout the weekend in the center of the capital, waving banners and projecting slogans reading "Where is my vote?" and "Open the ballot boxes!" onto the walls of Berisha’s offices.
The opposition has boycotted the Albanian parliament since June, claiming that a recount of the votes would put them in power. Currently, Berisha's Democrats have just 70 seats in the 140-seat parliament, and the Socialists 66. The Democrats rule with support from the four Socialist Integration Movement seats.
"Unless the ballot boxes are opened, we will not just refuse to return to parliament, but shall escalate our protest. If the boxes are not opened, we shall powerfully call for the government to go and call for snap elections," Rama said, threatening a nationwide protest.
"There won't be an opening of the election ballot boxes because the state institutions cannot be above the legal ones, which decided there there will not be an opening," stated a defiant Berisha on Albanian state television.
Rama has claimed that Berisha had stifled the judiciary, distorted the media and ruined free competition. Each man accuses the other of corruption.
Western observers had declared the June vote was an improvement on previous Albanian elections but had fallen short of the highest international standards.
Author: DrFaust, 23 Nov 2009 14:08:11
Albania Opposition Issues 10-Day Deadline to PM Sali Berisha
Berisha,the former doctor (he studied in Paris when no Albanian except of the fiercest Stalinists were allowed to leave the country) of the world's craziest dictator, who turned into a 'democrat' all of a sudden, has a track record in how to manipulate the votes, dating back to the 90s. Therefore it is more than probable that he also this time manipulated the results, and his 'No' to the opening of the ballot boxes proves that something is wrong. Rama is an extremely successful mayor (also elected as World Mayor) that turned a heap of garbage into a city in which you can live in a few years only. Compared to him, Boyko 'Bigmouth' is a Mickey Mouse, even physically.
Author: mavro from australia, 24 Nov 2009 07:40:05
Albania Opposition Issues 10-Day Deadline to PM Sali Berisha
DrFaust I see that you're an expert on Albanian politics.
Now are you completed bored or maybe you work in a university?
Author: DrFaust, 24 Nov 2009 08:31:49
Albania Opposition Issues 10-Day Deadline to PM Sali Berisha
mavro,
in fact I am interested in Albania, like in the rest of the Balkans too. Since I am living in this region, I have been travelling a lot in South-Eastern Europe and I also made the effort to learn Albanian to a certain extent.
For a number of reasons, Albania is especially interesting: it has been isolated from the rest of the world completely for 50 years, very much like North Korea today (including a paranoid dictator). Albanians have never lived in a state that worked (and this is also true for former Yugoslavia where they were extremely discriminated). Therefore they expect nothing from a state or a government and try to resolve things on their own with very strong family networks.
In Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia you have all these people that are somehow nostalgic about the old times, and many people excuse their laziness with 'the Turkish yoke', or 'what do you want, we are Bulgarians/Serbs/Macedonians' attitude. Go to an Albanian village in Macedonia, and then to a Slav Macedonian village and you will see the difference immidiately. In the Albanian villages plenty of new houses, things are cleaned up usually, and in the Macedonian village you will see only neglect and lethargy. Many Slav Macedonians, just like many Bulgarians and Serbs are still waiting for the government to clean up their places. But it is not going to happen without making an effort on your own. Albanians have understood this, and that's why they are so much more energetic than most of their neighbours. Even their Mafia is more efficient and energetic than in the other Balkan countries, lol.
Author: Pitielbasani, 24 Nov 2009 10:35:44
Albania Opposition Issues 10-Day Deadline to PM Sali Berisha
Sadly, what we are seeing of Berisha at this time it typical of the man. I lived in Albania from 1997 unti 2005. Berisha did not accept a single election result in that time, made a mockery of parliamentary procedures and was generally considered by most Albanians as a fool.
Edi Rama is a man I quickly admired. I firmly believe that he is the one person at this time who could lead Albania forward. But until all the old communists are removed from leadership, Albania will struggle.
Unfortunately, they will then find themselves ensnared in the growing dictatorship that is the European Union.It will take a strong leadership to have any chance of retaining any form of self determination. Only Rama has the ability and caliber to do this.
Author: NellieotAmerica, 24 Nov 2009 14:38:24
Albania Opposition Issues 10-Day Deadline to PM Sali Berisha
Didn't watch, too Rama.........
Author: mavro from australia, 24 Nov 2009 23:03:19
Albania Opposition Issues 10-Day Deadline to PM Sali Berisha
DeFaust
I been noticing back where my parents originate from in Greece, how the Albanian labourers have made the place look pristine. Obviously their expect nothing mentality has produced a good work ethic. When you really think about its still artificial because no one is actually living in most of those houses anyway.
Author: NellieotAmerica, 25 Nov 2009 00:04:27
Albania Opposition Issues 10-Day Deadline to PM Sali Berisha
" Albania’s Socialist opposition "
Don't you mean Albania's Islamo-Fascist opposition?
