EU Spokesperson and EP Rapporteur for Albania comment on opposition’s decision to renounce mandates

18/02/2019 19:40

Top Channel asked the rapoprteur of the European Parliament for Albania, Knut Fleckenstein, regarding the political decision of the Democratic Party to quit their parliamentary mandates.

Top Channel asked the rapporteur of the European Parliament for Albania, Knut Fleckenstein, regarding the political decision of the Democratic Party, to renounce their parliamentary mandates.

In his response, Fleckenstein says that this is not the first time that they see a similar situation with Albania’s opposition, which threatens to relinquish its work in the Parliament.

Fleckenstein said that in these five years, nothing has changed among the opposition regarding this tactic. He insisted that it is up to the opposition to offer a political alternative in ruling the country.

As for the renouncing of the mandates, the German politician said that it is up to each of the MPs to decide if they want to give up the mandate given to them by the people.

“The EU Spokespersn, Maja Kocijancic, said for Top Channel: “The right of citizens to engage in peaceful demonstrations is an essential feature and a core value of any mature democracy, and must be guaranteed. However, resort to violent acts and perpetration of damages to public property as seen last Saturday in the center of Tirana are not acceptable”, she declared.

As for the opposition’s decision to renounce their mandates, she said: “The Parliament is the base of any European democracy. It is a place where debates on reforms and relevant developments should be discussed and taken forward, not boycotted.

Calls of some members of the opposition to boycott the Parliament and for MPs to renounce their current mandate are counterproductive and go against the country’s EU reform efforts.

We expect the government and the opposition to engage in constructive discussions with a view to overcoming the current political situation”, her letter says.

Top Channel