Albania MPs Target Nationalist Leader

Albania's Parliament on Wednesday created a new committee that is expected to call for the dismissal of the deputy head of the High Council of Justice, Kreshnik Spahiu.

Besar Likmeta

BIRN

Tirana

Kreshnik Spahiu during a rally of the Red & Black Alliance in the city of Kruja

Ruling Democratic Party MPs maintain that the parliamentary investigative committee will “investigate evidence that Spahiu has discredited his constitutional role. “

Kreshnik Spahiu emerged over the past year as the head of the nationalist Red & Black Alliance, an organisation better known for its opposition to the recently held population census.

The creation of the new parliamentary commission on Wednesday passed through the law commission of the assembly with the votes of the ruling majority, while the opposition boycotted the vote.

In a meeting with his MPs on Monday, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha accused Spahiu of using his position to create a political party, in breach of the constitution.

Spahiu has previously hinted that the Red & Black Alliance could be transformed into a political party.

In a press conference on Monday, Spahiu called the parliament's request for his dismissal as unconstitutional and said it amounted to executive pressure on the justice system.

The Democrats fear that the nationalist movement could cost them votes on the right in the 2013 parliamentary elections.

Spahiu was nominated to the High Council of Justice four years ago with the backing of the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Berisha.