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Thousands Protest New Electoral Code in Albania
Tirana, Nov. 18, 2008 (AENews)- Thousands of people protested in front of Albania’s parliament on Tuesday as MPs gathered to vote a new electoral code for the parliamentary elections in the summer of 2009.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama have come under pressure by civil society groups and smaller parties in parliament over a draft bill that aims to change the electoral code.
Ten lawmakers from Albania’s smaller parliamentary parties have continued their hunger strike started Monday in the parliamentary building to protest against proposed changes to the electoral code.
Thousands of protesters have gathered outside the parliament building in support of the striking deputies, launching slogans for the free and fair elections, in the upcoming ballot in the summer of 2009.
The deputies accuse the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the opposition Socialist Party, of a deal to change the electoral code, which according to them will be used to rig the parliamentary elections due to be held next year.
“We will not leave this room alive without reaching our goal,” said Frrok Gjini, one of the Christian Democratic Striking MPs.
While independent MP Spartak Ngjela praised the actions of the striker as in protection of the constitution.
“We, the deputies and heads of the undersigned parliamentary parties, in protection of the constitution and free elections, have decided to go on a hunger strike to raise the public alarm of a coup d’etat which is being prepared,” reads an open letter sent to Albania’s President Bamir Topi.
The strikers include the members of the Socialist Movement for Integration of former Prime Minister Ilir Meta, the Christian Democrats and deputies from a new splinter party from the Socialists, PS91.
They charge that the changes proposed by the larger parties in the electoral code are politically motivated and aim to push the smaller parties out of parliament, by rigging the electoral process.
The pressure in growing on Berisha and Rama to compromise with the strikers. A group of the countries leading intellectuals sent an open letter to Albania’s President, Prime Minister, to Socialist leader Edi Rama and the head of parliament Jozefina
Topalli asking for a solution for the political crises that has emerged from the debate of the electoral code changes.
“There space created, that through dialogue and negotiation we can make progress or steps ahead that could lead to a compromise, that don’t hurt any party, but otherwise grantee the transparency of the electoral process,” said the head of left wing Social Democracy Party, in a press briefing in Tirana on Sunday.
