Center Right International, resolution against the government in Albania

2024-11-18 15:20:00, Politikë CNA

The Center Right International has adopted a resolution on the situation in Albania, where it condemns the government of Edi Rama for its links with organized crime, corruption and election manipulation.

This organization that groups 108 political parties of the center of the right expresses support for the Democratic Party and the Albanian opposition, emphasizing the measures imposed by the justice bodies on the former prime minister Sali Berisha, the chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta, the deputy of the DP , Ervin Salianjin and Fredi Beleri and the investigations for the head of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu.

DP has presented this resolution, announcing it as an international condemnation of Edi Rama's government.

Representatives of the DP, Albana Vokshi and Belind Kelliçi, were appreciated for their hard work in this direction.

Resolution:

The Center Right International is an international political organization of the center, inspired by the values ??of Christian democracy. Until 2001, it was known as the Christian Democratic International (CDI); before 1999, it was called the International of Popular and Christian Democratic Parties. This earlier name is still sometimes used informally.

CDI stands strongly for respect for the rule of law and institutional integrity as the backbone of democratic societies. Under the 12-year socialist government in Albania, all powers are concentrated in the hands of one person and periodic elections are just a facade. Similar to the situations in Belarus and Tunisia, opposition leaders, members of parliament and local government from the opposition face political persecution and imprisonment, as well as direct threats and attempts on their lives.

Rampant corruption, as well as the problematic links and influences of organized crime, is worrying. Drug trafficking and organized crime, closely intertwined with Latin American drug cartels that have infiltrated many European countries, are using the Albanian economy and political landscape to launder money, showing a disturbing mix of state and criminal enterprise. Recent revelations by Belgian authorities alarmingly expose the direct links between organized crime networks to Socialist Party leaders and law enforcement officials.

The leaked recordings and documents illustrate a coordinated effort between criminal organizations and government officials to appoint their own people as MPs, interior ministers, judges, prosecutors, senior police officers, high officials and to rig elections in in favor of the Socialist Party. This cooperation has created an environment where criminal networks are used to buy votes, intimidate voters and systematically manipulate elections.

During its time in power since 2013, the Socialist majority has failed to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, which call for urgent measures to prevent vote buying, voter intimidation and misuse of state resources. Prime Minister Rama unilaterally changed the constitution, prohibiting the right of opposition parties to form coalitions. As the parliamentary elections of 2025 approach, the political situation has deteriorated significantly, in stark contrast to the conditions of 2013, when the Socialists won the elections and a rotation of power was possible.

CDI underlines the need for an impartial and independent Albanian judiciary. In this context, there are legitimate concerns that key institutions, which are supposed to function impartially as guarantors of democracy and the rule of law, have largely turned into powerful instruments of the socialist majority to suppress political opponents.

The recent cases of political arrests, imprisonments and criminal prosecutions of opposition leaders, deputies and local government officials a few months before the general elections prove that Edi Rama wants a fourth term at all costs. Just five months before the next election, all opposition leaders, all together, face political persecution and imprisonment, as well as direct threats and attempts on their lives. Albania is among the few countries with political prisoners:

1. Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha: President of the DP and leader of the opposition. Under political house arrest for nine months as a person under investigation, after a false complaint filed by the leader of the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party and the repeated order of Edi Rama. His house arrest is in violation of the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. Recently, he is facing politically motivated accusations of passive corruption, based on lies, forged official documents, without any criminal evidence. There is no legal violation, no public damage and no signature by Berisha, no witness against him;

2. Mr. Ilir Meta: former president, former prime minister and former speaker of the Parliament and currently leader of the Freedom Party (the second largest opposition party), is in prison as a person under investigation. Stopped on the street, brutally arrested and dragged away with a headbutt by masked policemen in a bespoke script;

3. Mr. Fatmir Mediu, President of the Republican Party, former Minister of Defense - faces criminal prosecution while the Supreme Court of Albania rejected Mediu's "abuse of duty" case in 2009. The 10-year statute of limitations for the case The medium was fulfilled in 2019. But the Prosecutor's Office opened the case in violation of the statute of limitations and the double trial; 4. Mr. Ervin Salianji, DP deputy and vice-president of the group, sentenced to one year in prison, based on false testimony and accused of making a false statement, which he never made; 5. Mr. Fredi Beleri, European MP, elected mayor of Himara - arrested and politically imprisoned.

The judiciary cannot be used as a political weapon to prepare the ground for electoral manipulation, recalling the tactics of authoritarian regimes. The Venice Commission's warning in 2015 that justice reform risked being co-opted by the ruling party and creating chaos within the system appears to have materialized under Rama's leadership.
CDI underlines that ignoring the will of the people, clearly expressed in the last parliamentary elections, can lead to a decrease in trust in the already weakened democratic processes and can cause long-term political instability.

CDI condemns the politically motivated arrests and imprisonments of leaders, deputies and local government officials in Albania and demands their immediate release.

CDI unconditionally supports the efforts of the Albanian opposition for EU membership, as well as its struggle to guarantee free and fair parliamentary elections, recognizing their courageous and vital role in the restoration of democratic governance and the protection of rights basic.

We reiterate the importance of the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking as a vital responsibility of a NATO member and EU candidate country, emphasizing the need for urgent measures to break the vicious circle between crime and votes.

CDI supports an independent judiciary, which is based on respect for the constitution and laws and is not used as a political weapon against opponents. The judiciary must serve the people, enabling Albanians to fully enjoy their rights and freedoms.

It is in Albania's interest to allow the creation of a caretaker government, based on the model of North Macedonia. A caretaker government overseeing the electoral process and ensuring its integrity was a successful experience in North Macedonia.

CDI will closely follow the developments in Albania and will stand in support of the member parties in the upcoming elections and will support Albania's European future./ CNA