Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA826
2008-11-20 11:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
HUNGER STRIKE ENDS, ELECTORAL CODE PASSES
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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)
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
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