Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA314
2008-04-21 12:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
META USES ELECTORAL REFORM TO HIS ADVANTAGE
how-toVZCZCXRO3330 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTI #0314 1121216 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211216Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7006 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TIRANA 000314
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV AL
SUBJECT: META USES ELECTORAL REFORM TO HIS ADVANTAGE
REF: TIRANA 174
UNCLAS TIRANA 000314
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV AL
SUBJECT: META USES ELECTORAL REFORM TO HIS ADVANTAGE
REF: TIRANA 174
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ilir Meta, Chair of the Socialist Movement for
Integration (LSI) party, has increased public attacks on opposition
leader Edi Rama as he has worked to build a stronger political base
outside of the opposition Socialist Party (SP)-led coalition.
Following his public break-up with the SP coalition earlier this
year, Meta has maintained a strong stand against Rama. Rama appears
to be unconcerned, focusing instead on portraying a statesmanlike
attitude throughout NATO integration, the Gerdec crisis, and
negotiations on electoral reform. Working in tandem on electoral
reform, the SP and Democratic Party (DP) will almost certainly best
the small parties on this issue in a Parliamentary vote expected
early this week. However, Meta shows no signs of submission. END
SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Following the rupture with SP earlier this spring (reftel),
Meta moved publicly to solidify a base among the smaller parties,
inviting those from both the left and right to work with him to
counter the SP-DP agreement on electoral reform, an issue of primal
importance to the small parties. He secured support from Paskal
Milo, Chair of the Social Democratic Party (PDS),and Neritan Ceka,
Chair of the Democratic Alliance Party (PAD),both from the SP
coalition, but initially did not win over any majority parties.
3. (SBU) As the battle continued, however, Meta has become the
strongest advocate for the continued existence of the small parties
and all the smaller parties of both blocks are now united against
the packet expected to be voted this week. (This consensus is not
due solely to Meta's efforts, but he was the early instigator.)
Meanwhile, Rama and PM Berisha have held steady with their agreed
course on electoral reform, which will eliminate at least some of
the smaller parties. These parties have no independent base, and
exist essentially at the patronage of the two major parties -- the
so-called "dyshk phenomenon." Without the parliamentary seats and
ministerial positions made possible through political deals struck
with the leader of their coalition, small parties have no means to
maintain or accrue political power on their own.
4. (U) Electoral reform is important to the small parties since it
would, in its likely form, eliminate the avenues through which these
political chits are paid out. The current package proposes
constitutional amendments that would change the system from
majoritarian to regional proportional. Each regional district would
have a set number of MPs based on population, and voters would have
only one ballot, voting by party. Party candidate lists would be
put forward in advance by party leaders, with no additions,
subtractions or re-rankings possible. In practice, smaller parties
would be unlikely to win parliamentary seats outside of the major
population areas and the larger parties would have less incentive to
manipulate the system through the dyshk phenomenon. A widely
criticized and much-used aspect of the current electoral process,
dyshk has ensured the survival of small parties, especially the tiny
ones with one-two members nationwide. Through this system the two
major parties have been able to give votes to the smaller entities
in their respective coalitions. Without it, most will be
eliminated, with the only certain exception of LSI, as Meta enjoys
both an independent political base and national name recognition.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Secure in the knowledge that electoral reform
will not eliminate his own party, Meta's strong political ambition
has driven him to search out ways to exploit electoral reform for
potential gain. Championing the rights of small parties could throw
him more support if some choose to defect from either major
coalition following the approval of electoral reform and cast their
lot with LSI. If they do not defect to Meta and are provided a
greater incentive by the DP or SP to join with them instead, Meta
could come away from electoral reform in need of another strategy to
increase his influence at the national level. END COMMENT
CRISTINA
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV AL
SUBJECT: META USES ELECTORAL REFORM TO HIS ADVANTAGE
REF: TIRANA 174
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ilir Meta, Chair of the Socialist Movement for
Integration (LSI) party, has increased public attacks on opposition
leader Edi Rama as he has worked to build a stronger political base
outside of the opposition Socialist Party (SP)-led coalition.
Following his public break-up with the SP coalition earlier this
year, Meta has maintained a strong stand against Rama. Rama appears
to be unconcerned, focusing instead on portraying a statesmanlike
attitude throughout NATO integration, the Gerdec crisis, and
negotiations on electoral reform. Working in tandem on electoral
reform, the SP and Democratic Party (DP) will almost certainly best
the small parties on this issue in a Parliamentary vote expected
early this week. However, Meta shows no signs of submission. END
SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Following the rupture with SP earlier this spring (reftel),
Meta moved publicly to solidify a base among the smaller parties,
inviting those from both the left and right to work with him to
counter the SP-DP agreement on electoral reform, an issue of primal
importance to the small parties. He secured support from Paskal
Milo, Chair of the Social Democratic Party (PDS),and Neritan Ceka,
Chair of the Democratic Alliance Party (PAD),both from the SP
coalition, but initially did not win over any majority parties.
3. (SBU) As the battle continued, however, Meta has become the
strongest advocate for the continued existence of the small parties
and all the smaller parties of both blocks are now united against
the packet expected to be voted this week. (This consensus is not
due solely to Meta's efforts, but he was the early instigator.)
Meanwhile, Rama and PM Berisha have held steady with their agreed
course on electoral reform, which will eliminate at least some of
the smaller parties. These parties have no independent base, and
exist essentially at the patronage of the two major parties -- the
so-called "dyshk phenomenon." Without the parliamentary seats and
ministerial positions made possible through political deals struck
with the leader of their coalition, small parties have no means to
maintain or accrue political power on their own.
4. (U) Electoral reform is important to the small parties since it
would, in its likely form, eliminate the avenues through which these
political chits are paid out. The current package proposes
constitutional amendments that would change the system from
majoritarian to regional proportional. Each regional district would
have a set number of MPs based on population, and voters would have
only one ballot, voting by party. Party candidate lists would be
put forward in advance by party leaders, with no additions,
subtractions or re-rankings possible. In practice, smaller parties
would be unlikely to win parliamentary seats outside of the major
population areas and the larger parties would have less incentive to
manipulate the system through the dyshk phenomenon. A widely
criticized and much-used aspect of the current electoral process,
dyshk has ensured the survival of small parties, especially the tiny
ones with one-two members nationwide. Through this system the two
major parties have been able to give votes to the smaller entities
in their respective coalitions. Without it, most will be
eliminated, with the only certain exception of LSI, as Meta enjoys
both an independent political base and national name recognition.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Secure in the knowledge that electoral reform
will not eliminate his own party, Meta's strong political ambition
has driven him to search out ways to exploit electoral reform for
potential gain. Championing the rights of small parties could throw
him more support if some choose to defect from either major
coalition following the approval of electoral reform and cast their
lot with LSI. If they do not defect to Meta and are provided a
greater incentive by the DP or SP to join with them instead, Meta
could come away from electoral reform in need of another strategy to
increase his influence at the national level. END COMMENT
CRISTINA