While Albanians are expecting to get a much-deserved EU candidate status in December, the country cannot simply rest on its electoral laurels
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL
The ancient Romans dubbed these hot August days “the dog days of summer” not just because a dog having to live with the August heat is the epitome of lethargy, inactivity and indolence, but because this is the period in which Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun.
Like many other parts of Europe, in Albania, most have used the reign of Sirius to go on vacation, leaving behind half-empty cities and workplaces.
It seems politicians are largely taking it easy too – and the country is left in a political calm before a new storm comes into the horizon.
The election results are now fully known, the names in the government have been revealed, the opposition has a new leader. There is little political intrigue or media coverage left until the new parliament starts work in September.
These are the days to enjoy the fact that the electoral process was conducted in a way that met the hopes of all Albanian looking to steer the country away from controversy and closer to Europe. They are also days to be hopeful the next government will be able to deal with things like the economic crisis. Europe is slowly inching out of recession, so hopefully, economic optimism will return to the air in Albania as well.
In the absence of all-dominating politics in the media, important stories that media here often ignore or only cover very little are getting more attention, getting some much deserved limelight.
One of the country’s most marginalized groups, the Roma, is getting more coverage than ever in the media following a high-profile eviction from a construction site where about 40 Roma families had been squatting for a decade. Their needs must be addressed as soon as possible, but the wider trend of how authorities and the media deal with the problems of the Roma should be kept in the limelight even when the dog days of summer have passed, and the Roma plight will have to compete for the attention of international community and the media with political controversy and intrigue.
Yet before we know it, fall will be here, and there will be a lot to do. The new government faces some tough challenges ahead, including with basic things such as full law and order and meeting obligations for basic social services.
While Albanians are expecting to get a much-deserved EU candidate status in December, the country cannot simply rest on the laurels of holding elections that met international standards with both sides acting as parties that belong to the civilized word.
Several international representatives have made it clear in recent days the elections were a key test, but there are other factors too. They will need to be addressed. While a vacation is always a nice thing to regenerate and bring new energies, one must see past the dog days of suffer, to return to work harder on objectives – and there is no more of an important objective for Albania than EU membership.
