TIRANA, Jan. 19 – Parliament held its first session of the year, as MPs engaged in a political effort to urge compromise between the governing Socialist Party-led coalition and the main opposition Democratic Party.
The Democrats resumed their presence in Parliament only late December after a five-month boycott, which first started following a physical confrontation between one of their lawmakers with two Socialist ones, with the latter accused of physical violence and are currently undergoing trial.
Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta of the Socialist Movement for Integration, Socialists’ main ally, said in his opening speech that the justice reform would be the focus of the session until summer. He urged the parliamentary commission not only to process reform but also to listen more to the people’s voice and to advice from international institutions and partner governments.
Lack of political dialogue remains the key issue in Albania. Meta also urged both political groupings to work more together in the process of these reforms.
As a sign of the compromise offered from the ruling majority, the parliament voted unanimously for the creation of two investigative commissions demanded by the opposition. One covers checking of the financial data of the taxation department, while the other covered the nomination of officials will alleged criminal ties.
The latter has been a fundamental issue the opposition asked as a precondition before deciding to return to parliament in December. They have alleged that up to 19 governing coalition lawmakers have a criminal past or ties to crime.
The governing leftists have said that such an investigation for the opposition should start with their leader Lulzim Basha and his predecessor, former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who are seen by many Socialists of having ties with corruption during their eight-year rule.
Compromise is seen as key to the country’s EU progress, as it heads to municipal elections to be held June 21.
