TIRANA, June 21 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Friday that the opposition’s main goal is to disrupt the country’s efforts to launch full membership negotiations with the European Union.
In an interview with “The Associated Press”, PM Rama stated he is determined the June 30 municipal elections would be held despite opposition unrest since mid-February.
“It’s done to affect and to affect it negatively. It’s done to show to Europe that this country isn’t stable, that this country does not deserve to be taken seriously,” he said, referring to the protests that have been violent.
Rama was wearing a polo shirt, with “PS 30″ on the front in a reference to his Socialist Party and the date of the municipal elections.
“Center-right opposition parties are boycotting the vote after months of demanding an early national election and accusing the government of vote-rigging and other wrongdoing,” the Associated Press writes, adding that “President Ilir Meta is backing their cause and has been trying to cancel the elections, saying they would be “undemocratic” without the participation of the opposition. Albania’s parliament has started the lengthy procedure to oust Meta for allegedly violating the constitution.”
Rama said “it’s time to hear the people,” adding he would resume calls for unconditional dialogue after the polls.”
According to him, the opposition’s arguments “don’t stand,” adding it has “a clear plan to disrupt the political process, the negotiations with the EU process.”
Rama said that opposition leaders fear that EU membership negotiations would open with a focus on the judiciary, including whether top officials should be indicted in corruption cases.
“The country had to prove that this it is a place where the justice system has no problem to indict, to convict and to prevent criminal activity of anyone,” Rama said.
“The era of impunity will be over and that’s the problem” for the opposition, he said.
Opposition protests have turned violent with demonstrators hurling projectiles at police officers, who have responded with tear gas in some cases. In recent days, the opposition has tried to prevent the preparation of municipal elections in the districts they manage.
The United States, EU and other international institutions have called on the opposition to avoid violence and sit in talks.
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