Why don’t they apologize?

By Plator Nesturi

AFP Newspaper Tirana

Two other MPs are caught by the net of the decriminalization law. The General Prosecution has demanded the lifting of the mandate for MPs Aqif Rakipi of PDIU and Gledjon Rehovica of SMI. Although a decision has not yet been taken, it can be said that it’s almost certain that they will be removed from Parliament, because media and the respective parties are thinking about the people who will replace them. The meeting of the Central Election Commission to discuss these two cases will take place on 3 January and along with the MPs mentioned above, the Commission will also decide on the fate of the former MPs Mhill Fufi and Omer Mamo and also the mayor of Pogradec, Eduart Kapri. Everyone will be judged based on the law on decriminalization, as they have not declared in their public self-assessment forms that they been convicted abroad or in the country.

Adding the long list of MPs or mayors whose mandates have been lifted in previous legislative periods and the large number of MPs who have resigned while exerting their term in office, it must be said that the law on decriminalization has stirred the quiet waters of politics, where politicians were not bothered by anyone, despite their previous “career”. However, all of those who today appear with criminal convictions for drug traffic or mere theft, cannot be blamed why they were in that post that they were proposed. At the end of the day, they have seen their post of MP as an investment, because if you have money, you can become anything. You can become mayor, MP, general or regional director. Even voters cannot be blamed why they have elected them as their representatives. However, a while ago, one of the ambassadors reminded Albanians that these MPs or officials who have had ties with the world of crime and that this makes them guilty. Nonetheless, this doesn’t make much sense. Perhaps this is how it should have been, because in a normal country, citizens would not vote for people with a criminal past. In our case, voters do not elect their representative directly. Even the lists are not subject to any consultations or internal voting within the party. In all cases, lists are a product of a very close group within political parties or even the exclusivity of a single person.

With all of these figures who have been stripped of the mandate of the MP, mayor or the senior official, we’re in front of a clear fact. All political forces, big and small are criminalized. And this phenomenon is not only limited with the previous parliamentary mandate, where at least 20 MPs were mentioned of having shady pasts. And to think that they have voted laws which have had a significant impact on the life of the citizens. But, who assumes responsibility for this? We still don’t have a public apology by political leaders for their MPs, who have been affected by the decriminalization law. Meanwhile, they are responsible for their inclusion. It’s irresponsible and immoral that every time senior public officials are caught by the justice system, the leaders, who up until yesterday promoted them, say that these people have individual responsibility. It seems that the law on decriminalization has not included a special article stating that those who are responsible for the appointment of candidates should also be held accountable if these candidates are subject to this law.