Ambassadors: Vote immunity

The meeting was asked by the opposition leaders, Edi Rama, for discussing about the hottest topic in the Albanian politics, that of immunity for high rank officials.

Rama showed to the ambassadors the draft-law planned b y the SP experts regardin the immunity removal. of high rank officials. After the meeting that went on for more than 60 minutes, the three ambassadors gave their announcements on the media.

“The Parliament voting session for removing immunity is August sixth. This is an eternal time, on the way how the Albanians measure time. There is still enough time to discuss and take in consideration all the points of view. As it happens with every part of the legislation, we must not allow the perfect to be an enemy of good. It is time for achieving a good law, because there are several proposals on the table. Based on the discussion that we had today, we believe that the Socialist Party is trying to be constructive and with a positive partner in the efforts for finding consensus”, Arvizu declared.

“The immunity issue is decisive for Albania and its EU path. As important as the immunity there are several reformks, such as the parliamentary Regulation, reached on November 2011. We hope that the reform will make progress same like the immunity. The electoral code agreement is a good step, followed by the removal of immunity and other reforms for the Parliamentary regulation. I will speak openly and say that we hope that there will be compromise. We are not asking the politicians to like each-other, por but cooperate with each other”, Wollfarth declared.

“The immunity case, when it is related with high rank officials, such as the MPs, the judges and prosecutors, gives more value to the system of guarantees and securities of a country, and for this reason it must be treated very kindly. Being submitted to the Law and Constitution, for everyone, especially officials, is an important step, hence the punitive acts that go against the law or the Constitution must  exist”, Sequi declared.

The opposition declared through a press release, that they consider as very necessary an all-inclusive discussion for creating a stable and long-term legal frame that will serve to all the citizens of this country, based on the suggestions of the constitutionalists and the experience of institutions that offer judicial assistance for our country, such as Euralius, Project Plaka, the Commission of Venice, etc.

It’s still unclear when the SP will submit this draft to the Parliament, while the Democratic Party and the Socialist Movement for Integration have submitted theirs.

A growing pressure from the international community is clear at this stage, especially from US Ambassador Arvizu, considering the immunity removal law as indispensable. One week ago Rama declared that they should not rush with the constitutional amends, while the leader of the majority reiterated the invitation of the SP for voting the propositions of the democrats. 

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