AGREEMENTS ONLY COME FROM BRUSSELS

AGREEMENTS ONLY COME FROM BRUSSELS
By Plator Nesturi

This article has been written for Albanian Free Press newspaper

Even before the arrival of the high negotiators of the European Parliament, McAllister and Fleckenstein to Tirana to broker a deal between the majority and opposition for the crisis, it has emerged that a large part of police senior officials will be discharged. The fact that the most affected ones from this “storm” are heads of police in charge of the most problematic regions of the country in terms of the cultivation of cannabis, was a way of admitting that the phenomenon of cannabisation exists and that the government is taking concrete measures by removing heads of police, with the aim of appeasing the accusations that exist about tolerance in the fight against drug traffic. On the other camp, the leader of the Democratic Party, Basha, said that he was open for dialogue in order to find a solution and for the opposition to be part of the elections. For the first time in the past 66 days of protest, Basha didn’t articulate his request for a caretaker government. Up until a day ago, the caretaker government was a non negotiable condition for the opposition to participate in the elections, as it was the case for the majority which considered the accusation that police collaborated with traffickers as a “cannabis fantasy” which was invented in the DP’s tent.

The mechanisms of conveying messages to Albanian political players who are in conflict have worked out, therefore, McAllister’s and Fleckenstein’s mission kicks off with a higher probability of success. Even before the talks started, the political leaders were more careful and more mature with their stances. Even the meetings with the negotiators have been more discreet, without issuing declarations for electoral purposes. But what we can easily discern behind this exhibition of civilization and open-mindedness of our leaders, is that it emerges when the European referee is in front of them. In these two months accompanied by accusations and counter accusations, the crisis became even deeper and the political class showed once again that it is not able to handle its own problems.

However, the crisis is being solved and this is the most important thing. The Albanian political class often diverts and it needs the goad of the EU to come back in the democratic path. And in this aspect, it seems that a solution will come quick, contrary to the pessimistic options that have existed so far, where the maximalist requests made the agreement and the solution of the crisis impossible.

The 12 point platform of the European Parliament negotiators is said to attempt, first of all, to deliver all acceptable options and offer guarantees to enter elections. The formula of a caretaker government may be an impossible option, but the opposition may be happy with the fact that the problems that it points out in relation to the cannabisation of the country, are being reflected in the way police senior officials in problematic regions are being removed. The majority must also make concessions in terms of time for the holding of elections, once it offers consensus not only on the electoral reform, but also on the other requests that relate to the campaign and the normality of the elections. The EU may offer the option of electronic ballot counting and this would fulfill the request that led to the DP’s decision to set up the tent. However, this would require the necessary time to turn it into a law and implement it.

It’s clear that the general elections may be postponed to Fall. Middle or end of September may seem as the best option to offer adequate time to the legal aspect which is needed to shape the new electoral code, but also other aspects relating to the political agreement. The election of the new president is one of them and his name seems to be part of the bargaining and consensus between the sides. All of this will be accompanied by procedures for the voting of the Vetting bill and the establishment of commissions which will be in charge of the reform in justice and the new institutions that must be established. However, the entire grudge that has been built up during all this time will be difficult to go away through an agreement. New spirals are expected to emerge…

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Note: The stances expressed in the Opinion section do not necessarily represent the editorial line of Albanian Free Press

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