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Year 2020/Strong political events and clashes between the parties

30 Dhjetor 2020, 19:52, English CNA

This year has been a year full of developments, which have brought reactions and fierce political clashes in the country. The filling of seats in the Constitutional Court has brought a series of strong clashes between President Ilir Meta and Prime Minister Edi Rama.

As new justice institutions begin to take shape complementing their members, the Constitutional Court remained blocked throughout the year. Parliament approved on February 12 a change in the swearing-in procedure of members of the Constitutional Court, which avoided the head of state.

President Meta reacted with strong tones, talking about a serious violent step of the majority against the Constitution. On March 2, he organized a popular rally on the central boulevard of Tirana. Meta signed there the decree that returned to the parliament the legal changes regarding the oath of the members of the Constitution. The preliminary opinion of the Venice Commission on March 6, assessed that the initiative for the oath procedure is unconstitutional, while giving the right to the president. The pressure from the internationals was great. They insisted on filling the vacancies.

And the Constitutional Court completed the necessary quorum for the examination of cases, becoming 7 members. Another special event that brought a great reaction was the demolition of the National Theater for the construction of a modern building. On May 8, 2020, the government approves the decision by which it transfers the National Theater owned by the Municipality of Tirana.

President Ilir Meta opposes and sues the decision in the Constitutional Court. But that same evening, the City Council approved the decision to demolish the building. A group of artists and a part of the civil society, start to guard the building 24 hours a day. The opposition was also in support of them. Despite calls from the international community, on May 17, before daybreak, police intervened by removing artists from the premises and demolishing the building. Electoral reform occupied a central place on the political debate scene from January until the end of this year. An agreement that included the extra-parliamentary opposition brought about consensual changes to the Electoral Code.

But then the Constitution was also affected, changing the scheme of the list of candidates, and excluding coalitions in the form so far. Under the pressure of the international factor, on January 14, 2020, the Political Council was set up, where the Socialists sat at the negotiating table with the two oppositions, the parliamentary one and the Democrats with the SMI, signing a joint document. All parties seem satisfied. The agreement was also applauded by the international community, which will oversee every step of its implementation. But the demands that were later thrown at the negotiating table, cause controversy.

The opposition insisted on its demand for a caretaker government before each parliamentary election, and the expulsion of Vetting members from the Electoral College. For its part, the majority demanded the depoliticization of the election administration. On July 21, the prime minister signed an agreement with the parliamentary opposition. After two days, was approved the Reform of June 5. One week later, on July 30, are approved the Constitutional amendments. Despite numerous international reactions, the Prime Minister states that ?it is not an election that we have the obligation to share, neither with the American ambassador, nor with the ambassador of the European Union, despite we respect them to the maximum?. The debate over the lists continued in September, as discussions began to adapt the amendments to the Electoral Code, which were adopted on 5 October.

For the American embassy, this was not a violation of the June 5 Agreement, but an ?additional intervention?. President Meta decrees April 25 as the election date. The Covid-19 pandemic brought other clashes between the parties, where allegations of mismanagement of the situation have been numerous. During March, the waters between the government and the presidency seemed to calm down.

It was President Ilir Meta who convened the Security Council several times, where he called the responsible ministers to discuss the measures taken. But the calm and love between Meta and Rama would be very short, as the accusations against the government started from Meta, followed by the opposition.

The murder of 25-year-old Klodian Rasha on the morning of December 8 by a police officer brought other clashes, which were followed by strong political developments. After this event and the numerous protests that followed in Tirana and several cities in the country, the Minister of Interior Sander Leshaj resigned from his duty, replaced by Blendi Çuçi.

The end of this year brought a series of changes in the government cabinet, where several ministers and deputy ministers were replaced. Yesterday resigned from the official post of Deputy Foreign Minister, Gent Cakaj. Olta Xhaçka will take his post, while the new Minister of Defense will be Niko Peleshi./CNA.al

Viti 2020/ Ngjarjet e forta politike dhe përplasjet mes palëve





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