The attitude “let Edi Rama usurp the local government unconstitutionally and illegitimately because a few months later we’ll have the Constitutional Court to rule on it retroactively” goes against the principles of the rule of law and the basic principles of democracy.

June 30 was not only an anti-constitutional and anti-democratic act, but it also came with a social and political cost that harms directly the citizens’ interests.

The June 30 elections, beyond of an unlawful farce, were manipulated by any means and ways, from legal manipulations to the threatening of voters and the manipulation of voting process and counting.

Anyone who silently and consciously accepts or approves this destruction of the Constitution and of the founding institution of democracy, the free elections, serves neither to democracy nor to the Albanians’ interest.

The opposition does not and will never recognize the elections of June 30. It was decided by Albanians themselves on June 30, in an overwhelming majority.

The political crisis in Albania cannot be solved with impunity, tolerating or pardoning the crimes, thefts and law violations. The only way to the normal politics and democracy is that of the rule of law, which means, above all, one thing: punishment of the politicians that have manipulated the elections and colluded with crime.

The punishment of the politicians that stole the elections in collusion with crime, and the rule of law cannot be discussed or negotiated around political tables.

June 30 is null, because it impinges the rule of law and cannot produce any political representation.

* Mr. Lulzim Basha is the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania and Leader of the United Opposition