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The new parliamentary session begins, VOA: The opposition distrusts the calls of the majority for cooperation

Politiko 2024-09-02 20:27:45

The new parliamentary session begins, VOA: The opposition distrusts the calls of

In Albania, the parliament started the new session amid the calls of the majority for cooperation with the opposition, and the latter's disbelief in the change of approach by the socialists. At the beginning of today's afternoon session, after earlier in the day the work program and calendar had been approved by consensus, the speaker of the parliament, Elisa Spiropali, also used harsh critical notes towards the majority to which she belongs, when she said that "can to be more tolerant" and adding that "the minority should be more self-controlled".

The last parliamentary session was dominated for the most part by scenes of violent clashes, which subsided in the spring as the parties then engaged in dialogue finding solutions to the demands for the establishment of investigative commissions demanded by the opposition, and then and for some interventions in the electoral code, where a formula for the diaspora vote was accepted.

"We have often behaved as the cause and effect of each other, where your lack of control has led to the decline of our tolerance, but case after case, both together, have caused damage to the quality of the Parliament itself, as a power from which it originates even the executive power affects the whole life of the country", said Ms. Spiropali, then asking for the cooperation of the opposition in some issues of common interest, especially in those related to the European integration of the country.

But for the chairman of the democratic parliamentary group, Gazmend Bardhi, "this session is not meant to be different from the 11 years of Edi Rama's misrule. Practice has shown that the majority has no will to debate initiatives or laws," he said, accusing the prime minister of "turning this hall into a parliament of personal affairs. Today we are only a parliamentary republic on paper, but the law and the constitution do not rule here, but the will of a man who, for his power, is ready to set fire to the country".

Like Mrs. Spiropali, and then the chairman of the socialist parliamentary group, Niko Peleshi, also learned about the need for the participation of the opposition in the two special commissions set up at the initiative of the majority, he "For the deepening of reforms for good governance, the rule of law and anti-corruption" and the Commission "To coordinate and supervise all institutional actions to combat disinformation and other forms of foreign interference in the country's democratic processes". The opposition has been skeptical about both, raising doubts that the aim is to attack independent institutions of justice, and especially the Special Prosecutor's Office against organized crime and corruption, or intimidation of the media. In his speech, Mr. Bardhi did not touch on the issue of the opposition's participation in these two commissions, underlining that the priority in relations between the parties should be the guarantee of free elections.

The need for cooperation between the majority and the opposition in the parliament was taught by President Bajram Begaj in a message addressed to the parliament, according to which "the issue of political dialogue in the country and in this sacred space of democracy must remain a priority". In his message, the head of state stated that "the Assembly should focus its legislative efforts on our main national objective: membership in the European Union" and that "legislative initiatives should be based on the real concerns of our citizens and on sectors of different, such as: economy, health, justice, education, environment and social justice among others".

President Begaj also emphasized the need to strengthen the fight against corruption and organized crime. "Parliament must fully support justice reform, our justice institutions and law enforcement agencies, strengthening their financial, human and infrastructural capacities. I encourage the Assembly to promote the anti-crime and anti-corruption policy as a real confrontation with an evil that we must fight at every level and in every field of this phenomenon that is corrosive to the economy and threatening to democracy", the Head of State underlined. VOA