Maltese helps broker Albania electoral deal
A deal on electoral reform and the holding of local elections that was struck over the weekend between the main political parties in Albania was reached following intense diplomatic intervention by a Council of Europe (CoE) delegation led by Ian...
A deal on electoral reform and the holding of local elections that was struck over the weekend between the main political parties in Albania was reached following intense diplomatic intervention by a Council of Europe (CoE) delegation led by Ian Micallef, president of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Council of Europe.
The agreement ends a long-drawn dispute between the 12 parties that make up the governing coalition of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the Socialist-led opposition of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama.
The two sides had battled for the last year over electoral reforms, notably the use of birth certificates as proof of identity by voters on election day.
There are no government-issued ID cards in Albania and this dispute had prompted the opposition to boycott elections claiming abuse.
In separate meetings with Mr Berisha and Mr Rama, Dr Micallef warned both sides of the consequences to the country's future membership of the European Union and its relations with the Council of Europe if an agreement on the holding of local elections was not reached.
In Tirana, Dr Micallef also addressed EU ambassadors accredited to Albania on the issue and kept them informed on the negotiations held between his delegation and the parties involved.
Speaking to The Times, Dr Micallef hailed the deal. "It wasn't an easy task as we had to deal with all 12 government and opposition parties involved. We worked hard and round the clock and finally managed to convince everyone that this was the right democratic way forward." Since communism collapsed in Albania in 1990, its elections have consistently fallen short of international standards.
Dr Micallef said that the CoE will now closely monitor the electoral process.