G-99 MOVEMENT LOOKS TO 2009 ELECTIONS FOR CHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000774

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: G-99 MOVEMENT LOOKS TO 2009 ELECTIONS FOR CHANGE

REF: TIRANA 399

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN WITHERS FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In an October 22 meeting with Ambassador,
Erion Veliaj, leader of the G-99 political movement, said
the June 2009 elections are a "golden opportunity" for
Albania to showcase its democratic progress. Veliaj
said his movement, which aims at younger, more urban
voters, has strong support and financial backing. He
expects to gain a seat in Parliament and is working on a
draft law to allow overseas Albanians to vote. He also
sued PM Berisha's spokesman for slander and defamation on
October 20. Veliaj is a young, suave politician who
fancies himself as an agent for change; however it is not
clear yet how many Albanians are convinced by his rhetoric
or how well his message will sell with older and rural
voters.
End summary.


2. (C) On October 22, Erion Veliaj, leader of the political
movement G-99, told the Ambassador that he is "optimistic"
about the political environment in Albania, adding that
Albania has a "golden opportunity" with the June 2009
elections to demonstrate its commitment to democracy.
Veliaj's G-99 arrived with a splash on the political scene
in May with its vow to change politics as usual
and revitalize Albania (reftel).


3. (C) G-99, according to Veliaj, is aimed primarily at
middle class, urban, young, non-governmental, and first
time voters. Veliaj hopes the post-Communist generation,
which has no historical ties to Communism, will ignore
claims from older leaders that "they rescued the country
from Communism." G-99 is also focused on a law to allow
Albanians abroad to vote in national elections. Veliaj
claimed that financially, G-99 is in great shape, raising
nearly USD 10,000 per month through small donations, most
of which come from overseas. He differentiated
G-99 from many of the other parties, saying that G-99
relies on the donations from members, and not on one rich
person to fund the party.


4. (C) Veliaj also spoke briefly about his recent lawsuit
in which he sued PM Sali Berisha's spokesman for defamation
and libel. He challenged Berisha to produce any evidence
to support his allegations that Veliaj has several villas
and spent political donations on personal items. Veliaj
said he filed this case in court in order to work within
existing institutions and to demonstrate to the sometimes
skeptical Albanian electorate that these institutions exist
to right wrongs against citizens. Veliaj said the message
he wants to send is clear: the PM is not above the law.


5. (C) Comment: Veliaj is a suave, urbane Albanian who has
been educated in the U.S. and has worked in Central America
and Africa. Many analysts have dismissed him due to his
youth - he is only 28 - and his lack of experience. While it
is too early to tell how his movement will fare in the 2009
elections, Veliaj, who has close ties to Socialist Party
Leader Edi Rama, appears to be making an earnest attempt to
shake up the status quo. It would be a mistake to
underestimate
Veliaj - prior to creating G-99, he founded and built the
NGO "Mjaft" into Albania's most successful and best known
Civic-activist NGO. But whether or not voters will be
interested
in Veliaj's message remains to be seen.
WITHERS