Meta: The Constitution of the Republic is the Red Line, and impassable by its enemies

On the 21st anniversary of Albania's Constitution, President Meta considers the constitution adopted in 1998 as the most democratic constitution the country has seen.

The constitution remains the first and the last line red, impassable, as long as its power stems from the people. November 22nd, 1998, is a historic date for all Albanians. For the first time, the Albanian people directly approved through the referendum the Constitution of the post-communist Republic of Albania. Thanks to political wisdom and a comprehensive process led by the late Sabri Godo and Mr. Arben Imami, as well as in excellent co-operation with the Venice Commission, there was a dignified constitutional debate and an exemplary referendum, granting us the most democratic Constitution Albania has had to date, he said.

Meta said the 98th Constitution enabled the restoration of social peace and normal political rotation in the country.

This constitution, which still enjoys the respect, honour and homesickness of all Albanian citizens, unfortunately was shattered overnight in complete darkness by the 2008 party political agreement. As a consequence of this agreement, Albanian Parliament deputies no longer represent the direct will of the Albanian people and citizens, but only the will of the Party Speakers. The fundamental changes in the Constitutions in 2016 have highlighted today and three other acute problems that were warned to be true. First, the Constitution, from the founding document of the state to exalt principles, was turned into a regulation with dates and deadlines, which, unfortunately, were all violated. This excess of deadlines has caused constitutional and legal chaos that is leading to the paralysing and destabilizing of the entire justice system in the country. Second, as the Venice Commission has warned, the implementation of this drastic and unprecedented process would have to be careful, gradual, given the human resources available”, he said.

Meta said the implementation of the Justice Reformation continues to be unilateral and non-transparent.

The goal of reform was not bankruptcy of the judicial system, but its deep reform and increased citizens' credibility in Albanian justice. New judicial organs will have to have in their ranks a body of professionals with integrity and not just a few names that must fill the vacans that are collusioning the entire justice system. Third, again warned by the Venice Commission, the implementation of such profound constitutional changes would have to be implemented by maintaining the spirit of co-operation to ensure that new justice institutions are not seized by the political force in power. Contrary to what the Venice Commission advised, implementation of reform in justice continues to be unilateral and far from transparency”, Meta said.

Next, the president said the constitution is openly and violently violated with the sole purpose of focusing all powers on the hands of the current prime minister.

In fact, the Venice Commission has all told those who have ears to hear it and the will to apply it! And as if all of this were not enough, we are already facing an even more dramatic situation, where the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, what the Venice Commission recommended to us, is being openly and violently violated with the sole purpose of focusing all powers on the hands of the current prime minister. We are in conditions where the government is not accountable to anyone in the Republic of Albania, where executive power is unified with legislative power; Where 182 deputies and candidates for opposition deputies have resigned from Albania's Parliament; Where the clearly defined constitutional number of 140 Parliament deputies it no longer meets for nearly 10 months; Where all of the country's municipalities are caught in an anti-legal process with one-party voting, including the constitutional principle of local autonomy”, he said.

Meta stresses country is deliberately left without Constitutional Court, Supreme Court

“Where the country has been deliberately left for two consecutive years without the Constitutional Court and where it is doing its best to further block its creation as the Constitution predicts; Where the country and citizens are left without the Supreme Court, the result of which over 32,000 court cases have been imposed, which would require at least 20 years to be handled by today; hence, a pensioner may never succeed in enjoying his pension. Where the Acting Attorney General, the term that does not exist in the Constitution of the Republic of Albania vote by consensus with 140 votes has been chosen unconstitutionally to reap those amazing results that you all know; Where citizens' rights are violated arbitraryly, kidnapping property, homes and businesses in broad daylight ; Ku have passed over 20 unconstitutional laws that openly violate public interest; Where the government to address «enriched a cast of oligarchs, which serves it blindly, has created a debt that Albanian citizens will have to repay in the next 20 years; where free word has been replaced by censorship and autocensorates in the service of propaganda ; Where Albania sinks further and further into all political, economic, rule of law and respect of basic human rights; where the country is becoming disarrayed without ban ; Ku as a result of imaginary successes in Albania no longer has any serious investment either from the US or Germany, from France or Italy or Britain”, he said.

Meta also appeals, it's time to say stop this degradation of our state and our homeland!

Albania has suffered once and nationally in the Student Movement of the 1990s, that it will never happen again, nor de Fascto, nor de Jure! I, as president of the Republic, will stand as the head of the protection of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, and oppose with all my strength such destructive and antinational efforts. Albania cannot be run by the Resolution, but only with the Constitution! Albanians open their eyes, take their fate, in defense of the Constitution, and that their children no longer leave their feet in their homeland!

Meta also said the president would be in direct defense of the freedom and fundamental rights of the Albanian people!

The president will seek the support of all Albanian people, through the Referendum to protect the Republic. Let it be the Albanian people, and only the one, who will decide whether he agrees to return to Dictature or defend democracy that has been won with great courage, suffering and human sacrifice. The people and the sovereign general's direct decision is above all. Referendum is direct democracy and in action! The President of the Republic will do everything to free and unimpeded justice. This is my duty, which I have sworn solemnly and wholeheartedly upon the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and will defend, as I have sworn, to the end! To protect the Constitution today and through it our future and our children! Albania first!”, he said. / ATSH/