The changes to the Electoral Code proposed by ruling Socialist Party (SP) have been adopted by its members of the parliamentary Law Committee with the opposition MPs rejecting them.
The online discussion of the amendments on Tuesday was accompanied by clashes between majority and opposition MPs over several topics, such as gender representation in election commissions and the use of the term ‘Court’ in one of the articles.
It was previously agreed between the parties that the Parliament should approve what was signed by political parties in the accord of June 5 this year.
The Law Committee’s Chairman, Ulsi Manja said that the Electoral Code will be enriched even more thanks to these changes.
The bill will be taken for consideration to the plenary session of the Parliament which will take action on it in the upcoming meeting.
Some members of the parliamentary opposition have said they will vote in favor of the draft, but it remains to be seen if the required 84-vote threshold will be reached.
In the meantime the Law Committee has started discussion on the controversial issues of the open election lists and pre- electoral coalitions which are opposed by the extra- parliamentary opposition.
Albania will hold general elections next year and the main political parties have already kicked off the electoral campaign. //argumentum.al
