EPP wades in on Albania-Greece drama, Prime Minister Edi Rama reacts

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the centre-right European People’s Party resolution on allowing the imprisoned mayor-elect of Himare, Fredi Beleri, to be sworn in, passed in the European Parliament on Tuesday.

Beleri, the winning candidate of an opposition coalition, was arrested two days before the April local elections on suspicion of buying votes. He maintains his innocence but has been held in pre-trial detention ever since, along with 48 other suspects, including candidates from the ruling centre-left Socialist Party.

Several appeals to reduce the security measure from arrest in prison have been refused, meaning he has been unable to be sworn in as mayor. Greece and the Albanian opposition have said his arrest and detention are politically and ethnically motivated, as well as a breach of the rule of law and democratic norms.

The government in Athens and members of the EPP have repeatedly threatened to block Albania’s EU accession path if the situation with Beleri is not resolved per their demands.

The Albanian government has remained steadfast that Beleri must wait for the courts to finish their work, denying it is anything other than a justice issue.

On Tuesday, the EPP Group, of which the Greek ruling party New Democracy is a member, tabled a resolution on the Beleri case.

It called for the arrest of the Albanian ethnic Greek mayor-elect to be added to the 2022 European Commission Country Report, which was approved in July. In addition, they demand he be allowed to take the oath to assume office if he does not by mid-September, another vote could be called.

During the Parliamentary session, MEPs expressed their concern regarding the arrest of Beleri and demanded his immediate release. The resolution also states the Albanian authorities violated the presumption of innocence and directly interfered in the electoral process “against European values”.

The resolution continues that “no country trying to become a member of the EU can act this way.”

At the same time, it is added that “the flagrant disregard of the Albanian government for the rule of law, fundamental rights, the rights of the Greek minority and above all the European acquis creates a political vacuum between Albania and the EU”.

The resolution concludes by asking the Albanian authorities to respect the result of the local elections of May 14, as well as the presumption of innocence, and to take all necessary legal and administrative or other measures to ensure the swearing-in of Beleri.

Rama reacted to the resolution on social media, noting that the assembly does not specify who they refer to in the solution and that the Albanian government are ready to provide the EPP with any information required on the case at any time.

“Interesting! “We appeal to the Albanian authorities”… An appeal without specifying which authorities and, certainly, without being informed that the problem, in this case, is not the result of the elections, but the result of the courts, which have already rejected such a request,” Rama wrote, referring to the four rulings that Beleri’s security measure must remain as arrest in prison.

He added that he used the word ‘certainly’ because “it would be truly shocking if the major European People’s Party passed a resolution entitled “Rule of Law” to demand a different outcome to that decided by the Special Prosecutor against Corruption and Organised Crime and Special Courts with the same name.”

The prime minister explained that the institutions dealing with the case were established with the full support of the EU and the US. They are closely supervised and assisted by the same entities in fighting corruption.

“If necessary, we are more than willing to provide the highly respected EPP leadership with information on this matter in any format and at any time. It is without a doubt that all Albanian authorities greatly expect the continued support of the EPP as a strong voice of our Europe during this historic phase of change for our country,” Rama added.

He concluded that high-profile cases that overcome political affiliations are being thoroughly investigated, “signalling the end of a long era of impunity.”

(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)