“Protracted death of democratic Albania”

Dimitar Bechev starts the article by saying that “last year, Albania was hailed as ‘one of this year’s most intriguing prospects’ by the Financial Times. Two decades after the collapse of one of the most repressive and introverted regimes in the Communist bloc, and following millions of euros spent in assistance by the European Union.”

But for Bechev, “it seems that all that might have been blush on the cheeks of a dying patient”, since the reality is much different. Albania has been politically paralyzed by a stand-off between the centre-right government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the socialist opposition led by Edi Rama, until recently mayor of Tirana. A stand-off that began in 2009, when the centre-right Democratic Party won elections over the Socialists in what few people think was an honest contest,” the article continues.

“The opposition then refused to take up their seats in parliament – and, once they did, took no part in legislative business – making Albania the only country in Europe without a formal relationship between government and opposition. This year, the situation went from bad to worse, as opposition-led protests against the government turned violent, with four people killed. Local elections, including for the mayoralty of the capital, were marred by irregularities and a post-ballot legal process that most found questionable. After having observed the local elections and subsequent wrangling, the Danish ambassador to Albania said it was ‘against the very spirit of democracy and fair play.’”

Then the author gives a detailed analyze of the situation, and gives the conclusion that both political leaders are to blame for this situation, Berisha and Rama alike.

But according to him, “Berisha must take the lion’s share. No other individual has held such a sway over post-Communist Albania as he has. While a member of the Communist party, he called for democracy in the 1990s and went on to win the first freely-organized elections, only to be ousted in 1997. He returned to power in 2005 and now seems determined never to let it go.”

“Albania’s people have endured hardship like no other in the Communist bloc, but have emerged with an entrepreneurial energy that is often more American than European. They deserve better than their vote-rigging leaders have offered. If European governments want a partner to do business with and a democracy to take root, they will need to take a more uncompromising stance with Tirana than they have done until now”, the article concludes.

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