HUNGER STRIKE ENDS, ELECTORAL CODE PASSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000826 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 te new electoral code by the lopsided score of 1131. The ringleader of the strike, Socialist Moveent for Integration Chairman Ilir Meta, called te new electoral law a "cconsensual crime," and labasted Prime Minister Berisha as well as oppositoon leader Edi Rama for "colluding" to pass an "antidemocratic" law. The failure of the hunger strik is a serious defeat for Meta, who launched the ttrike in hopes of either derailing the electorall(aw or creating a larger crisis that would requiee international intervention or mediation. END SUMMARY. Hunger Strike Ends Unexpectedly -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The hungr strike ended at approximately 7 pm on the eeningof November 18 as the Parliament opened tedebate on the new electoral code. When i ecae cear to the strikers that overwhelmig pssae of the code was imminent, severalo h triersgave defiant speeches then walkdotof h chamber Sortly after the departure fte srikrs h emaining MPs passed the new lcoa lwby a oe of 113-1, with 4 abstentos Bfore leaigte chamber, Meta lambasted h ew law a an at-emocratic basis for the pcoming electin,adsaid that PM Berisha and Scialist Party edr Edi Rama had colluded to draf a "consesual crime." Meta also lashed out at he diplomatic community, saying that diplomats "ould not cover up the crime of the electoral cod." ¶3. (C) Another key factor in Meta's decisionto end the strike was his and the other strikers realization on the afternoon of November 18 tha their (but mainly Meta's) concerted efforts to rag the Embassy, OSCE and EU Missions into the dama had failed. Since the day the hunger strike egan, Meta supporters had pestered the Embassy, OSE and EU Missions, both lobbying for support andlooking for any sign that the diplomatic communiy would intervee on behalf of the hunger strikes and their ase. ¶4. (C) Comment: Meta emergesfrom tehner strike even weaker than before i hi non battle with Edi Rama for the hearts n id fleft wing oters. Although Meta's ofottoal, atteto-grabbing tactics have firdu i malbs appx. 10 percent of voters) ti nlerwa,i any, traction he will gai ih the ie lcoate on the left. Meta's oly hope ewe o n the election will be to pitch isl ste"real opposition" to PM Berisha, (in otat to the more conciliatory approach favoredb di Rama),and hope that voters fed up with h ruling Democratic Party and PM Berisha will listen and vote accordingly. At this point, however, that seems unlikely. WITHERS