HUNGER STRIKE ENDS, ELECTORAL CODE PASSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000823

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AL
SUBJECT: HUNGER STRIKE ENDS, ELECTORAL CODE PASSES

Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Paul Poletes, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: After an nine-day hunger strike on the
floor of Parliament, eleven disheveled and defiant MPs left
the chamber on the evening of November 18, shortly before the
remaining MPs overwhelmingly voted in favor of the new
electoral code by the lopsided score of 113-1. The
ringleader of the strike, Socialist Movement for Integration
Chairman Ilir Meta, called the new electoral law a
"consensual crime," and lambasted Prime Minister Berisha as
well as opposition leader Edi Rama for "colluding" to pass an
"antidemocratic" law. The failure of the hunger strike is a
serious defeat for Meta, who launched the strike in hopes of
either derailing the electoral law or creating a larger
crisis that would require international intervention or
mediation. END SUMMARY.

Hunger Strike Ends Unexpectedly
--------------


2. (SBU) The hunger strike ended at approximately 7 pm on
the evening of November 18 as the Parliament opened the
debate on the new electoral code. When it became clear to
the strikers that overwhelming passage of the code was
imminent, several of the strikers gave defiant speeches then
walked out of the chamber. Shortly after the departure of
the strikers, the remaining MPs passed the new electoral law
by a vote of 113-1, with 4 abstentions. Before leaving the
chamber, Meta lambasted the new law as an anti-democratic
basis for the upcoming elections, and said that PM Berisha
and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama had colluded to draft a
"consensual crime." Meta also lashed out at the diplomatic
community, saying that diplomats "could not cover up the
crime of the electoral code."


3. (C) Another key factor in Meta's decision to end the
strike was his and the other strikers' realization on the
afternoon of November 18 that their (but mainly Meta's)
concerted efforts to drag the Embassy, OSCE and EU Missions
into the drama had failed. Since the day the hunger strike
began, Meta supporters had pestered the Embassy, OSCE and EU
Missions, both lobbying for support and looking for any sign
that the diplomatic community would intervene on behalf of
the hunger strikers and their cause.


4. (C) Comment: Meta emerges from the hunger strike even
weaker than before in his ongoing battle with Edi Rama for
the hearts and minds of left wing voters. Although Meta's
confrontational, attention-grabbing tactics have fired up his
small base (appx. 10 percent of voters) it is unclear what,
if any, traction he will gain with the wider electorate on
the left. Meta's only hope between now and the election will
be to pitch himself as the "real opposition" to PM Berisha,
(in contrast to the more conciliatory approach favored by Edi
Rama),and hope that voters fed up with the ruling Democratic
Party and PM Berisha will listen and vote accordingly. At
this point, however, that seems unlikely.





WITHERS