A disputed local election in Albania is the latest backdrop in the country’s political crisis.
Context
Opposition parties boycotted the local elections in the 61 municipalities of the country, which took place in June, thus leading to a resounding victory for the ruling Socialist Party (SP).
The Party’s representative in the elections, Valdrin Pjetri, received 100% of the valid votes for the post of Mayor in the city of Shkodra, a stronghold of the Democratic Party (DP). However, before he could assume office, he was forced to resign following the DP’s revelation of his criminal record.
The DP revealed that Pjetri was convicted in Italy for a drug-related offence in 2003. Under Albania’s law: “anyone sentenced for serious crimes is banned from holding public office and those sentenced for other crimes are obliged to declare them before taking the oath,” Balkan Insight notes.
Pjetri’s resignation left the city with an uncertain fate, however, a new city council was sworn in on the 20th of August amid tension and protests from the opposition. According to Tirana Times, at the ceremony, Pjetri’s mandate was declared valid.
As expected, this did not sit well with the opposition. Incumbent Mayor of Shkodra, Voltana Ademi, a member of the Democratic Party, declared that she would continue to serve as Mayor. She said: “I will be in charge and responsible on the other hand to be the mayor of Shkodra until the moment, as soon as possible for all of us, not only for Shkodra but for all Albania, when we Albanians, we Shkodra, enter fair and free elections, where everyone can vote freely.”
A Larger Problem
In February, opposition politicians resigned from parliament and launched protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama of the Socialist Party. They accused Rama of corruption and electoral fraud. The mass resignation received international condemnation, from the United States and the European Union (EU) alike.
The President and Prime Minister are also at loggerheads. President Ilir Meta had tried to reschedule the June municipal elections till October, but Rama insisted, following up with moves to impeach the president.
The ongoing political and constitutional crisis may impact Albania’s bid to join the EU.
