Roundup: EU lawmaker fail to end Albanian political impasse; opposition warns of unrest

Two German lawmakers, David McAllister and Knut Fleckenstein, of the center-right and left-wing groupings respectively at the European Parliament, held marathon meetings Tuesday with Albanian leaders in an effort to solve the political impasse here.

European parliamentarians tried till late Tuesday to mediate between Albania's political groupings and find a way out for the opposition's boycott of parliament and June 18 parliamentary election.

Despite two rounds of talks between European Parliament envoys and majority leaders -- Prime Minister Edi Rama and Speaker of Parliament Ilir Meta as well as with opposition leader Lulzim Basha, there was no agreement at sight.

Local dailies said Wednesday that a draft prepared by the U.S., the EU and OSCE Ambassadors to Tirana has been presented to all negotiating parties as a compromise ground for a possible solution.

Proposals included changes to the Central Elections Commission, swift amendments to the electoral code in line with OSCE-ODIHR recommendations, the criminalization of the "vote-buying" phenomenon as well as other law and order provisions which would suggest changes at the State Police or Ministry of Interior, unofficial sources confirmed to media.

After the meetings with MEPs, Democratic Party chair, Lulzim Basha had a press statement where he reconfirmed that the DP stood firm in its determination for a technical government without Edi Rama as prime minister and free and fair elections.

Such position made an agreement between majority and opposition impossible, as Prime Minister Edi Rama refused to negotiate his resignation.

This means that Albania risks escalating into further conflict as the country's opposition called its supporters to prepare for civil disobedience across the country.

Basha said the protests would escalate after the failure of political talks to find a solution to Albania's political crisis, despite the help of two senior members of the European Parliament.

"Unfortunately the efforts of the two mediators have not had any success. This because Edi Rama refuses the technical government as the only condition for free and fair elections, but also for the implementation of decriminalization and fight against narcotics," Basha told his supporters.

More than two months have passed since the start of opposition's parliamentary boycott and non-stop protest in front of PM Rama's office.

The opposition demands the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the formation of a technical government which would prepare the country for free and fair elections but the prime minister has refused to step down. Endit