Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA863
2008-12-05 15:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
G99 DESCRIBES STRATEGY FOR 2009 ELECTION
how-toVZCZCXRO9725 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTI #0863 3401548 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051548Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7664 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TIRANA 000863
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AL
SUBJECT: G99 DESCRIBES STRATEGY FOR 2009 ELECTION
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY
UNCLAS TIRANA 000863
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AL
SUBJECT: G99 DESCRIBES STRATEGY FOR 2009 ELECTION
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Summary: In a December 5 meeting with the political section
head, Erion Veliaj, leader of the G99 politacal movemend, told the
section head that he belieted hir G99 party would pick up three
parliae$nt seatsiN thE up coming election. G99 will berUhning aQ
c!ePa(g. Qocused on "public safety" af$ Q`f2 Qg are its `lPul rity
with young, urban fQpdb0aC A B`Ca QaQ`Q`also explained that he
be(Ia6`Q aQapsa.ab dQ `ttempt to hurt SP's chancaQ Qb `QaQQQe,A@(GQC Ahhrder to further his positAQF AQ QEpQ Q`0QpQ0Q `
the left in Albania. EQd summary.
Veliaj on G99 in the June 2009 ElectQons
--------------
2. (SBU) In a December 5 meeting with the political section head,
Erion Veliaj, leader of the G99 poltical movement, discussed his
and other parties'prospects in the coming election in June 2009.
Due to a mandate in the election code that parties must run in a
minimum number of districts, G99 will be on the ballot in 8 of the
12 districts in this election. G99 will be focusing its efforts on
only a few of these areas. Veliaj believes G99's best prospect for
picking up seats in Parliament will be in Tirana's district, but he
also hopes for success in Durres. Based on a recent poll conducted
by DP he believes that G99 will win three seats in the Tirana
district. He explained that his party is too small to focus on too
many issues, so G99 is leading a campaign with "public safety" as
the central theme.
Veliaj on Metas LSI vs SP in the June 2009 Elections
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Veliaj also touched on the prospects of other parties in
the meeting, specifically SP in relation to Meta's LSI party. Veliaj
believes that Meta is hoping to undermine SP's chance at success in
this election. In Veliaj's view, Meta would then be able to use SP's
poor results as a way to push himself into a more prominent position
representing the liberal portion of Albania's electorate.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) Although Veliaj and his G99 party are running for the first
time in this election, the likelihood of their winning at least one
seat in parliament seems promising. While Veliaj is a new and
relatively small player in Albanian politics at the moment, his
connections to Edi Rama of SP and his success with the NGO Mjaft!
bode well for his chances to rise to a more prominent position. If
Veliaj is right about Meta's motives in this election, this is
further evidence that Meta is willing to take drastic political
measures to advance his LSI party.
WITHERS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AL
SUBJECT: G99 DESCRIBES STRATEGY FOR 2009 ELECTION
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Summary: In a December 5 meeting with the political section
head, Erion Veliaj, leader of the G99 politacal movemend, told the
section head that he belieted hir G99 party would pick up three
parliae$nt seatsiN thE up coming election. G99 will berUhning aQ
c!ePa(g. Qocused on "public safety" af$ Q`f2 Qg are its `lPul rity
with young, urban fQpdb0aC A B`Ca QaQ`Q`also explained that he
be(Ia6`Q aQapsa.ab dQ `ttempt to hurt SP's chancaQ Qb `QaQQQe,A@(GQC Ahhrder to further his positAQF AQ QEpQ Q`0QpQ0Q `
the left in Albania. EQd summary.
Veliaj on G99 in the June 2009 ElectQons
--------------
2. (SBU) In a December 5 meeting with the political section head,
Erion Veliaj, leader of the G99 poltical movement, discussed his
and other parties'prospects in the coming election in June 2009.
Due to a mandate in the election code that parties must run in a
minimum number of districts, G99 will be on the ballot in 8 of the
12 districts in this election. G99 will be focusing its efforts on
only a few of these areas. Veliaj believes G99's best prospect for
picking up seats in Parliament will be in Tirana's district, but he
also hopes for success in Durres. Based on a recent poll conducted
by DP he believes that G99 will win three seats in the Tirana
district. He explained that his party is too small to focus on too
many issues, so G99 is leading a campaign with "public safety" as
the central theme.
Veliaj on Metas LSI vs SP in the June 2009 Elections
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Veliaj also touched on the prospects of other parties in
the meeting, specifically SP in relation to Meta's LSI party. Veliaj
believes that Meta is hoping to undermine SP's chance at success in
this election. In Veliaj's view, Meta would then be able to use SP's
poor results as a way to push himself into a more prominent position
representing the liberal portion of Albania's electorate.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) Although Veliaj and his G99 party are running for the first
time in this election, the likelihood of their winning at least one
seat in parliament seems promising. While Veliaj is a new and
relatively small player in Albanian politics at the moment, his
connections to Edi Rama of SP and his success with the NGO Mjaft!
bode well for his chances to rise to a more prominent position. If
Veliaj is right about Meta's motives in this election, this is
further evidence that Meta is willing to take drastic political
measures to advance his LSI party.
WITHERS