Political camps in Albania have not yet positioned themselves for a clear political strategy in the new parliamentary session. SP and PM Rama have turned on the “engines” and are clear on their destination.
The Socialist Movement for Integration doesn’t seem to have decided yet if it wants to be in opposition with the majority or the crime. Meanwhile, the DP has more energy to spend in its internal wars rather than the future opposition battles.
The strong declarations issued by the US ambassador Donald Lu in the recent days have shaken the sides. Not only has he spoken in Albanian, as he has done many times before, but he has also singled out names, by placing his finger not only on the real wounds that this country has, but also by setting a time limit for the delivery of tangible objectives, especially in the fight against 4 clans and 20 mob families that dominate the Albanian scene.
What is happening is a “cold” summer being followed by a “hot” winter.
Due to the constitutional formula, a vacuum is always created in the governance of the country, because three months must go by since the date of voting and the announcement of the winner of the election, until the creation of the new government. This period coincided with the summer and this was what caused a “cold” political summer.
This period ended in the middle of September and since then, the political life of the country seems to have slowly returned to normality. The first signs have been given and the initial results of the important reforms which were approved during the first term in office of the left wing government are expected to be seen.
During a meeting with new magistrates, the US ambassador to Tirana warned that the vetting process in the justice system for judges and prosecutors, will start next week. A much anticipated process by everyone, at first glance, but in fact, it has started to cause fear not only within the system, but also in other powers where individuals, groups and given clans have strong ties with that part of the “victims” of the biggest reform which the justice system will undergo.
All of this, along with several other things that relate to the vetting among police ranks announced by Interior minister, Fatmir Xhafa and the steps that must be taken prior to obtaining a date for the launch of EU accession talks indicate that we must brace ourselves for a very “hot” summer.
Some political players also predict that the period between winter 2017 and spring 2018 is expected to be the season of hell for all of those who will undergo reforms and who will be subjected to the full force of the law through police operations conducted in cooperation with law enforcement agencies and international partners.
The first victory in this aspect seems to have been achieved through a tough campaign in the fight against the cultivation of narcotic substances. But we must wait until spring to see the results of the work of the government to take the country out of the map for the production and traffic of these drugs.
The delivery of this objective is a big thing, because it will show the will of this majority to fight crime and other phenomena that it brings to society, without showing any tolerance.
The expectation of a “cold” season has generated so far two pictures, two approaches, two tendencies and two realities. On one hand, we have the virtual war through public statements, articulations, stances and comments by politics, diplomacy and media. On the other hand, everyone is expecting real results in these battles, although it’s too early to see the initial results.
More than optimism, even the phase that we’re in, creates lots of expectations and perhaps, skepticism amidst the domestic public opinion and on the other hand, amidst our international partners.
Despite the many problems that the current parliamentary opposition has, one thing is sure: none of the political parliamentary parties in Albania has hesitated to offer its support for the start of the implementation of the justice reform and also their support for the fight against organized crime, clans and mob families in the country.
This is not something new for the Albanian political reality during these 27 years. The problem doesn’t relate to the public articulation and the public declarations. The problem relates to the real support, real cooperation, real will and on the real steps needed to have a hot season, which needs to turn into the biggest winter against unlawfulness, against the culture of impunity, mafia, clans and mob families in the Republic of Albania.
This is the only way we will achieve real and tangible results for the implementation of the biggest reform in the pyramid of the Albanian justice system, in the fight against organized crime and the creation of a positive climate of trust for foreign investors, their capital, for a higher economic growth, for the opening of new jobs, for the growth of revenues and the improvement of the living standards for the people of this country.
This is the only way to have a prosperous spring in 2018, following a “cold” summer and a “hot” winter. This is the only way to offer the country real chances for the launch of accession talks with the European Union.
