EU criteria for candidate status

Fulfilling the 12 recommendations, 8 of which require opposition’s vote in the Parliament and performing elections according international standards, would give green light to Albania’s EU candidate status within this year.

The elections result for Tirana Municipality has deepened disagreements between both main political forces, but Prime Minister Berisha said that there will be no compromise against the legal state, the functioning of which is the main criteria for EU membership.

“Nothing will ever replace the functioning of the legal state with unprincipled compromises, solutions of the moment. Elections for Tirana Municipality had a very narrow result, and there is no doubt that a narrow result is the greatest test for the legal state. The solution from the legal state, the Electoral College, is progressing. We cannot even think to leave uncounted ballots. No! Miscast ballots, in Albanian law and laws of all countries of the world, are considered valid. These ballots are valid, because the citizens have clearly expressed their will. This stance had full sanctioning from the Electoral College with five votes in favor and 0 against”, Berisha declared.

According to Prime Minister Berisha, the test with Tirana was that the Socialist Party, different to other times, asked to review the value of miscast ballots, and is proving that the legal state is functioning. For this reason, Berisha invited the opposition:

“I hope that the opposition will fulfill its obligations and understand that there must be no blockings, but votings. No destructivity, but constructivism. This is the alternative that Albanian citizens want. They want us to fulfill these obligations as soon as possible, not the alternative that thinks that it is important to block processes, instead of voting them”, Berisha declared.

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