Greece’s governing conservative party has added a convicted politician from Albania’s ethnic Greek minority to its list of candidates for the upcoming European Parliament election. This move has heightened tensions between the two countries, as the politician, Fredi Beleris, was elected mayor of the town of Himare in southern Albania but was arrested on vote-buying charges and received a two-year suspended sentence in March. Beleris denied the charges, and Greece’s government criticized his detention, even threatening to block Albania’s EU accession process. The ruling New Democracy party’s decision to include Beleris as a candidate has sparked controversy ahead of the election on June 6-9.
Beleris expressed that his battle is not personal but rather for the rule of law and democracy. He emphasized the importance of upholding Western and European values, particularly for those seeking to join the European family. The politician’s participation in the election signifies a larger struggle for the integration of the western Balkan region into the EU. Six countries in the region, including Albania, are in various stages of their EU membership applications, with concerns over regional stability heightened by events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The accession process has become a pressing issue for the region, with potential implications for political and economic relations.
The historically tense relationship between Greece and Albania has further complicated Beleris’ candidacy and the broader EU accession process. Athens has accused Tirana of being slow in restoring the rights of over 100,000 ethnic Greek citizens in Albania following the end of communist rule in the early 1990s. Many members of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania have ties to Greece, including dual citizenship and employment. This context adds layers of complexity to the political dynamics between the two countries and raises questions about the treatment of minority populations in the region.
As the European Parliament election approaches, the inclusion of Fredi Beleris as a candidate has reignited longstanding tensions and disagreements between Greece and Albania. The decision by Greece’s ruling party to support Beleris despite his legal troubles has stirred controversy and drawn scrutiny to the broader issues of rule of law and democratic values in the region. The outcome of the election on June 6-9 will not only impact the representation of the western Balkans in the EU but also have implications for regional stability and relations between neighboring countries. The political landscape in the region continues to evolve, with the integration of new members into the EU presenting both opportunities and challenges for the future.
