Radovan Karadzic, Sarajevo is not your city, and you have no right to say that it is, just as you do not have the right to say in public, even if it’s in court, that someone has dug up bones around Bosnia and brought them to Srebrenica to make a fake graveyard. This is insulting.
Albania: The New Government "Kingmakers"
Tirana | 02 June 2009 | By Dardan Malaj
LSI head Ilir Meta
Ilir Meta: The electoral campaign is proceeding well, in general; however, the framework for free and fair elections has been tampered with. Some of the main TV broadcasters are biased, under pressure from other political parties. We are also concerned about the distribution of the new identity documents, necessary to cast a ballot on June 28 [...]. However, despite these problems, I believe that the country has a chance to hold an acceptable poll, providing there is no deterioration of the political climate, or any attempt by the current Prime Minister [Sali Berisha] to control the electoral outcome.
Balkan Insight: If all those potential voters who do not have passports fail to receive new identity cards by June 28, is it possible that the elections will be postponed?
Ilir Meta: I believe that postponing the elections would not raise their standards; rather it would result in a deterioration of the political climate. All that can be done [for the identity cards], should be done in these few remaining weeks. We have continuously requested that the electoral code be drafted earlier, and not at the last minute, so we could all have the time to fulfill the requirements, like the new identity cards and the other necessary infrastructure for the poll. I do not believe that by postponing the elections by two or three months the elections standards would be considerably improved; in fact, I think Albania’s image would be tainted as a country that cannot hold free and fair elections. We also should consider the effects of the economic crises under such a political scenario. We could experience a troubling economic crisis that must be dealt with and a government that does not have a legitimate mandate beyond June 28.
Balkan Insight: You have formerly declared that the current ruling majority is trying to rig the elections. Do you have any concrete evidence to back your accusations?
Ilir Meta: The proof stands in the lack of will to realize, in a timely fashion, the complete logistic infrastructure for the distribution of the new identity cards. We have made public time after time that in certain municipalities controlled by the leftist opposition, the process of creating this infrastructure has been stalled.
Balkan Insight: During the electoral campaign recently you have declared that your party seeks to win 35 deputies in Albania's 140-seat assembly. On what are you basing this assessment, which is perceived by some as overly optimistic?
Ilir Meta: I base this assessment on the result that my party gained in the proportional system in the 2007 local elections, where the two main parties [Socialists and Democrats] were at a level of 20 per cent and the LSI between 9 and 10 per cent. With the new electoral system and its higher electoral barriers, the seats will be divided among three parties, for the most part.
The LSI will be the political force that will be the kingmaker, because no single political party will be able to built a majority on its own. The LSI will be the determining factor, and the real winner of these elections. To reach our objectives, we do not need an extraordinary result, we just need to double our votes compared to the 2007 local elections. We should not forget that the LSI was not a protagonist in the 2007 elections, because in many cities it backed the Socialist Party candidate, while in the current election all its investment is in its own logo.
Balkan Insight: You have toned down rhetoric against the Socialist Party, but Socialist leader Edi Rama has said that he would win a majority and form the government without the LSI. How do you respond to this?
Ilir Meta: The divisive mentality expressed by Mr. Rama is a quality for which he will be able to blame only himself after the elections. I should stress that we remain open [to cooperation] with the Socialist Party. After the election I will call on all [the current opposition] forces to form a new government.
Balkan Insight: Would you join in a coalition with the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha after the election?
Ilir Meta: It’s not only impossible but also unnecessary, because with this new electoral system the left will be the winner in general. It will be my task to unite all the opposition forces and form the government, while Mr. Rama will be backed to head the Tirana municipality.
Balkan Insight: During the 2007 local election you told the electorate that Edi Rama was a model [politician] who merited their votes. If he wins the June 28 election, what kind of prime minister you think he will make?
Ilir Meta: I believe Mr. Rama has made his choice by choosing [not to resign] form the mayor’s office. I also believe that Albanians have the necessary maturity to cast a [sensible] vote on June 28.
Balkan Insight: You have formerly declared that the Socialist Party sought the constitutional changes approved in 2008 to destroy the LSI. Would this create a problem for joining a post-electoral alliance?
Ilir Meta: The [constitutional changes] could have a bearing in relationships with certain people, but with the Socialist Party in general we are open to cooperation.
Balkan Insight: Recently you have warmed with former Socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano, while the LSI was formed as a splinter party from the Socialists because of Nano and the way he ran the Socialist Party at the time...
Ilir Meta: The LSI is open to cooperation with any factor that has the will and is interested in contributing to the victory of the opposition. From this point of view there is no reason to leave out Mr. Nano.
