2019, a bitter year for Albania

The year began with a growing political conflict that erupted in often violent opposition protests, which in an unprecedented act burned parliamentary mandates and boycotted local elections, in an extreme attempt to oust Prime Minister Edi Rama. The country failed to receive the promised opening of EU membership talks. While at the end of November, a severe earthquake dealt a devastating blow to several cities, causing 51 victims and huge damage. Three other earthquakes had earlier hit the country during the year.

November 26 earthquake

It marks 3.54 in the morning. Strong for intensity, with a 6.4 magnitude and lying in more than 40 seconds, swings, with a spire in Durres, shake Albania as never before in the past 40 years. Fear and panic prevail everywhere. Over the hours it will be learned that the size is dramatic. In Thumane, two palaces have collapsed, in Durres, three hotels, two palaces, and a three - story villa in the Koneta area manages to stand, tilted for several hours until it collapses. Within it a whole family in a deadly trap.

There is a battle everywhere against time to save as many of the ruins as possible. Poor ones in equipment and equipment, Albanian army and fire departments are struggling for the impossible. Within the day, they come to the aid of specialised forces from Italy, Romania, Kosovo, and the coming days and from other countries. In Tirana and Durres hospitals, they flock to endlessly wounded.

The next day the state of emergency “is announced on the perimeter of the two regions that are directly affected and where the wounds are open -- Tirana and Durres” -- explains Prime Minister Edi Rama at the government meeting the following morning.

The balance of victims gets deeper and deeper. Several dozen people make it out alive. After four days, research ceases. 51 people lost their lives. The day increases and the balance of damage, while other, often strong, passages keep fear and panic alive. Thousands are arranged in tents, and hotels are available to others. Touch numbers are high.

International solidarity is impressive. In addition to the first aid, the government seeks support with experts for the assessment of the buildings. “is the moment to intensify the physical checks of”, the prime minister notes.

Over 32,000 buildings are inspected until the last days of December. Several thousand result in serious injury. About 4 thousand are the people sheltered in hotels, over 8 thousand in the cathedral, and over 40,000 families have received rent bonus.

The European Commission offers a first aid of 15m euros (December 4th). There's an estimated $70 million total of the aid collected. An additional 130 million are predicted in the 2020 budget. In January, the European Commission is expected to organise a donor conference and promises support for the reconstruction phase. The European Commission is already in contact with the United Nations and the World Bank for preparing the assessment of the” needs, European Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenacic said, while visiting on December 5th, a camp set up in Vora to house damaged families. Until the last days of December, there is still no balance of damage.

The government is scheduled to build several new neighbourhoods for housing affected residents. The opposition committed to the first moments near hit areas, over the course of weeks, talk of a serious situation. “The state of areas damaged by the quake, a month later, is evidence of the government's failure in managing the” situation, Democrat President Lulzim Basha repeatedly declares, following visits to the hit areas.

The quake points to many problems, before which all these years, have closed their eyes; overindulgence, license abuses, and endless violations tolerated by institutions.

Tirana, Durres and Kruja prosecutors launch investigations. Very soon nine people are arrested, while another eight are declared at large. It's about builders, former local administration officials and officials, or co-ordinators of the works who are suspected of acting in violation of laws. The charges against them are from abuse of office to murder. If the investigation goes to the end, they'll probably lead away.

Opposition Protests and Boycott

An extremely tense climate since the beginning of the year warns, in the context of the June 30th local elections, strong stormes on the political scene, which will disturb the country's life of no short term throughout the months.

The battle awaits us and the great confrontation for democracy and the rule of law, leading popular protests for the overthrow of Edi Rama”, declares the Democrat Basha at the National Council meeting. A few days later the opposition announces organising the protest on February 16th to seek a transitional government that will organise early elections.

The council, in front of the opposition-filled prime minister, will soon resemble a battleground for nearly five hours during which several times the entrance to the building is attacked. Police will intervene to disperse protesters with tear gas.

This civic uprising will continue until the total overthrow of this rotten system”, Mr. Bashan points out, among the protesters. “Edi Rama has not seen anything yet”, declares from her party headquarters, LSI head Monica Mayor.

A few days later, Mr. Basha suggests he has deployed “proposes the parliamentary group and the party's highest decision-making forums, the burning of parliamentary mandates”. DP structures, but allies support the proposal, despite opposition from the international community. A call from US Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer with Mr. Basha and Mrs. Grandie did not change the attitude of the opposition, which formalises the public act on February 21st.

In the evening, Prime Minister Rama claims he is willing to dialogue with the opposition, however, confirming what cannot be discussed is “the break of a legitimate governing mandate, through a political leader in the mexhilis of parliamentary life”. A stance that will remain steadfast, while the opposition will continue unabated with protests that will be associated with violent clashes with the forces of order.

While local elections are approaching, the opposition makes it clear that it has no intention of involvement. The resolution with Eddie Rama will not have”, Basha declares at the end of the protest before parliament on March 28th. By contrast, the prime minister is equally convinced. “Say them in the elections, drop them in the election, local elections will take place at the set time of”, he stresses in front of MPs.

The international community openly states that Government “is legitimate”, and also parliament where the empty opposition countries are being fulfilled by candidates on its lists. In Tirana (April 9th), Mr. Palmer wants the opposition to see the opportunity to re-age in political processes. “I think the June elections are the best opportunity to do this as soon as we do”.

But the opposition will proceed with protests, but with roadblocks trying to spur civil disobedience. Over the weeks, clashes come and become more severe, with police, but protesters ending in injuries. Many later arrested

The opposition's language is increasingly harsh. “will have confrontations at each polling station, in each ballot box”, Mr. Basha declares with high tones during a meeting with his party supporters in Durres on 22 May.

The publication of the conversation tapes by Durres Mayor Vangjous Dako with crime characters, or even socialist officials, in the dybra elections, serves as further incentive for the protests.

On June 8th, while the opposition had gathered for the next manifestation, President Meta, as he had warned, announces the decision to cancel June 30th as the date of the election. “It was this union that dictated the annulment of June 30th”, claimed the Democrat chairman in the square in front of the government building where the opposition has gathered for the next protest.

But for Prime Minister Rama, it is a <x0-> act that is politically suicide, legally is nul”, he says during an electoral meeting.

Two days later, the head of State signs the decree and explains the reasons: “The annulment of the elections is the only emergency tool for resolving the serious political crisis and preventing an uncontrolled escalation of it”. The immediate majority response. Albania's “Parliament will start procedures for the dismissal of Ilir Meta”, declares Elissa Spiropali, minister of relations with parliament.

The CEC decides not to recognise the decree and proceed with election preparation. “is an absolutely invalid administrative act”, expressed during the Commission's meeting, Deputy Chairman Denar Biba.

President Meta's advance does not calm the blood. In the municipalities run by them, the Democrats require the release of seized facilities for election commissions, which are then attacked, while election materials are destroyed or burned.

On June 27th, President Meta decrees October 13th as the new election date. But on the same day, from Washington, to the Voice of America, Matthew. Palmer states: “We expect the elections to take place on June 30th”. The American official calls on opposition leaders to make it clear to their supporters that there is no violence so that no one can prevent the right of those who want to participate in the elections.

His statement, followed by a similar line and of the EU, seems to have served as embalming in the poisonous near-election environment. “We will not allow any hair of any Albanian to be touched”, notes Mr. Basha on June 28th. A day before the elections, he only calls for their boycott. Likewise, President Meta emphasises the extraordinary “the importance of preserving social peace tomorrow”.

The day of the vote goes generally calm, where turnout was expected to be low. The figure of 22.97 per cent provided by the CEC in the coming days will be accompanied by controversy.

In the evening, Prime Minister Rama, who ensures control of all of the country's municipalities in a competition without competition, declares that “sot won the future, the state won, the power of politics, earned citizenship”. But for DP Chairman Basha “Albanians massly abandoned Edi Rama's one-party bastard.

The controversy will follow for June 30th. Only 24 hours from the day of the vote, the international observer mission was critical, while stressing among other things that citizens had no choice.

While on July 2nd, President Meta speaks of “disgrace and scandal, not even 10 per cent has received. Let the boxes fill the entire day”. He insists on October 13th and appears not to have swallowed up the fact that the international community unanimously discussed holding elections on the predetermined date. “Foreign representatives don't be ridiculous. That we're a member of Nato, we've been in 10 years. Don't mock our constitution”.

In the months following, the majority will lose two mayors, the one of Shkodra Valdrin Peter and Vora Agim Kajaku. Thanks to documents published by the DP, it is revealed that they have hidden problems of their past. Under the prosecution and the Mayor of the Sea Vau, in process verification by the Prosecution. While former Durres Mayor Vangush Dako of his family will be barred from entering the United States under suspicion of involvement in serious acts of corruption.

Meta, Most and Justice

The conflict between majority and President Meta for elections constitutes only one of the episodes of an increasingly difficult relationship between the parties. Establishing new justice institutions will mark another strong clash. In his attacks the president will not spare the international community either.

The first week of January will be a battle of nerves between Prime Minister Rama and President Meta. Of the eight ministers dismissed, the head of state signs for 7 of them, 5 January), but not for Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati, giving a clear signal of opposition to Kosovo's young Gent Cakaj proposal at the helm of diplomacy. And in fact, as he then decrees January 9th, all the new members of the cabinet leave off the name of Cakaj. A day later, he officially refuses his appointment, noting the lack of experience, legal violations, without taking the security certificate during his post as deputy minister, or TV comments about the debate over changing Kosovo's borders, which according to the head of state “are dangerous”.

The prime minister reacts sharply by citing President “'s shameful and unconstitutional decision”, while that evening he will publicly protect him from “prejudices, the clay of Albanian political terrain, and the undisgusting anger of ignorants”.

Replica exchanges follow suit with severe tones between the two top heads of state, but the only way for the prime minister remains to take over to lead diplomacy itself. He takes the oath on January 22nd and the next morning, goes to the foreign ministry, not to introduce himself, but to delegate the competencies to Mr. Cakaj.

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Relations with President Meta remain tense. Although during the political crisis he made several calls for dialogue, he was never seen as a possible mediator by the majority, with which the exchange of bitter replicas followed.

Following his decision to cancel June 30th for Socialists “Ilar Meta has lost the right to stay in the president's office with our consent”, Mr. Rama declares in parliament on June 13th.

The president has been elected by parliament, of course co this, but by a completely legitimate parliament”, counters Mr. Meta.

The Socialists collect firms and launch procedures for dismissal. On July 8th, parliament approves the establishment of the investigative commission. President Meta is named “the open enemy of Albania's own constitution”. But earlier in the day, President Meta through a long statement explains that his decision has been made in full support of the Constitution and that what had happened on June 30th had been according to him “a process of entirely illegal, anti-unconstitutional” voting

He will often repeat that he does not fear any kind of investigative commission, where he is submitted to testify on 9 September. The head of state says his decision was intended to avoid elections with a single candidate, and therefore it has <x0->protected the right to elect Albanian citizens”.

The issue has already gone past the Venice Commission, whose experts are in Tirana. After meeting with them President Meta (11 September) again stresses that “has no chance and no chance for Ilir Meta to step forward 24 July 2022 from this institution”

The September 27th Commission's opinion project estimates that the president has acted in excess of his constitutional competencies and in the absence of a legal base, noting that, however, there are no conditions to prove a serious violation that would lead to his dismissal.

Mr. Meta will insist that there are no violations and that he has made “an excellent defense of Constitution”, while a few days later, in a letter sent to the Commission, he uses harsh tones to the assessments of experts who, according to him, “have exceeded their competencies and mandate”.

The final report somewhat softens attitudes, but without changing the conclusion that the “president has acted beyond competencies”.

Despite parliament's decision to sack the president, delayed for the spring, the last word belongs to the Constitutional Court. The appointment of its new members will become a few weeks later, another cause of contention between the head of State and the majority

Constitutional Debate

On October 16th, the president decrees at the Constitutional Court Besnik Muci, though the latter was awaiting the Appeal College's decision. And actually five weeks later he gets fired, becoming the shortest member of the Court. On November 7th, a day before the 30th deadline expired, President Meta announced that he does not appoint the candidate for the next vacan that belongs to him, with the motivation that it initially belongs to parliament. Most, in turn, remind the fact that the president burned his opportunity and that the first listed on the State Head's contribution list, Arta Vorpsi, automatically passes.

On November 11th, parliament elects two judges. Two days later President Meta decrees Marsida Xhaferlar. He attacks with a strong tongue the head of the Dhestiary Admissions Council, Ardian Dvorani, who will bring him up and criminally, accusing him of the way he dealt with candidate lists and has tried to force the president to act in violation of the Constitution “with such vile games that even some street children do not make”

The next day (14 November) Mrs. Vorpsi, swims the oath formula and mails it to the presidency, where she won't be at the swearing-in ceremony of new members.

A day later parliament will adopt another resolution, where it does not recognise the president's decree on Xhaferlar. But that same day the Constitutional Court includes Jhaferlar, not Vorps.

On November 19th, President Meta at a meeting with opposition leaders speaks of a well-trained “effort, in my view, criminal, Albanian-international, for apprehending the Constitutional Court and handover Edi Rama”.

A day later he has a call with US special envoy for Balkan Matthew Palmer, as he followed the attack on the international community the next day, following the US Embassy's statement that the debate on constitutional appointments passes Venice. No more rules of advice! Rule of Law! (No more embassy states. But legal states.

A few weeks later (20 December) The investigation commission for the president decides to address the Venice Commission.

New Law Institutions

The Constitutional Court fails to become functional and capture the quorum of at least six members, which allows it to look into cases at the hearing.

The Supreme Court will also be blocked, with only one member. Progress is marked only with the establishment of several new institutions.

From the beginning of the year, the Prosecutor's High Council opened the race for special anti-corruption Prosecution, SPAK, (7 January) and later for the new Attorney General. Both processes will be closed at the end of the year.

With 27 candidates involved in the race, SPAK manages to form on November 25th, but will start operating a few weeks later as its members take the oath (19 December). That same day, the new leader, Arben Kraja, will be named through a competition process.

In a race with current director Arta Marku and Appeals Prosecutor Fatjona Memcaj, Olsian Cela from heavy crimes, ranks first on the list. Parliament's choice will be for him. (December 5)

Throughout the year, the re-evaluation process went to dozens of judges and prosecutors, bringing out the system many of them, leaders of different levels, including Supreme Court head Jezzair Zaganjori. In total, since its launch, Vettingu has been stumbling 83 judges and prosecutors, while 42 others are retired or retired. Only 94 of them have managed to escape

Integration

Albania loses another year, unable to take a new step forward in the European integration process. Internal conflict, more extreme than ever before, is an added obstacle along a path where and developments in the EU Bay itself, including the scepticism of some member states, were not in favour.

The conference, organised in Berlin on April 29th, with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, dedicated to the Balkans, but overshadowing enlargement -- a not so popular topic at a time when member states are under the fever of European elections.

At the end of May, Albania receives the Commission's positive assessment. The “Commission recommends to the Council, the opening of membership talks now, with both countries -- Albania and Northern Macedonia” -- suggests Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn.

But on June 18th, foreign ministers will not come up with a decision, pushing it “as soon as possible and not later than October 2019”

Pushing on time does not make any difference. The Netherlands is on the front line, with parliament voiced by vote on the issue. Albania's efforts focus on Germany. In its parliament, scepticism towards Albania is evident, against the Federal government. On September 24th, the biggest parliamentary group of CDU/ The CSU adopts a resolution under 9 conditions, whose fulfillment is split over time. The text is approved a few days later by Bundestag. Prime Minister Rama speaks of good news. For the Democrat chairman, however, conditions are evidence of the government's failure.

France, meanwhile, has not spoken directly, although the French president has given clear signals, that his main concern is problems in the EU's own Bay. The version of this reform, for the radical change of the EU, which the president of France has, does not affect either the Constitutional Court in Albania or the election Refroma. No connection”, Prime Minister Rama says on October 2nd.

But a few days later, France's stance is taught and requires a revision of the enlargement process. Foreign ministers fail to come to an agreement, pasting their decision to heads of state. The last “is not said yet, Prime Minister Rama said in a video message two days before the meeting, while expectations are in a recent Merkel cancer attempt during her meeting with President Macron in Toulouse, France. But the latter don't back down. Efforts will follow and to Brussels until the early hours of October 18th morning. Yet No Success

After the French president, who practically vetoed the Council, would say he recognises the progress made by the two countries, “but that there are still some things that must be resolved”. The German Chancellor will declare that she feels sorry that she did not have unanimity, stressing that “Germany believes the targets set by the European Commission have been reached”. For European Council President Donald Tusk “the two countries have the right to launch membership talks today. They're ready. Unfortunately, some member states are still not nearly”. While for Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Ctete, do not open talks with Tirana and Skopje “is a historic error”.

In Tirana, performances are different. “This has happened is the result of the failure to reach consensus among member states for their” reasons, the prime minister estimates. “The country is not only not being governed, it is being ruled, far from the minimum standards”, the opposition leader declares.

Member states decided to return this issue next spring, ahead of the Zagreb summit, dedicated to the Balkans, while the Commission will have to review the negotiation mechanisms, according to a preliminary idea France advances several weeks later. / VoA