TIRANA – The ruling Socialist Party (SP) lawmakers together with the votes of the parliamentary opposition have eliminated the existence of pre-election coalitions. At the meeting of the Legislative Council and the Law Committee of Parliament on Tuesday the constitutional amendment was approved according to which there will be no pre-election coalitions in the parliamentary elections to be held next year in Albania.
In the amendment, which was endorsed by the votes of all the members of the committee, it is specified that “candidates for deputies are presented at the level of constituencies by political parties or by voters. A candidate can apply only for one of the proposing subjects.”
However, it is noteworthy that in the adopted amendment there is no precise sentence required by the parliamentary opposition which should emphasize in the Constitution the prohibition of pre-election coalitions. Meanwhile, the rules for the registration of candidates for deputies are defined in the Electoral Code.
The constitutional changes sanctioned the partial transition to open lists of candidates for MPs in the elections. But care has been taken that the lists are not completely open, as it has been clarified that “the election law guarantees that no less than two thirds of the multi-name list will be subject to preferred voting and will provide gender representation”.
During the discussion in the Committee, the SP deputy, Klotilda Bushka specified that the transition to open electoral lists automatically prevents the pre-election coalitions.
Representatives of the parliamentary opposition also agreed with the drafted proposals. However, Murrizi asked for guarantees for the specification of the electoral threshold, which will be detailed in the Electoral Code.
After the unanimous vote of the Legislative Council and the Law Committee, the constitutional amendments will be voted in the parliamentary plenary session, where the vote of at least 94 deputies is necessary for the final endorsement.
DP’s Bardhi Calls on PM Rama to Give Up ‘Dirty Games’
Following the clear message from the Deputy Chairman of the CDU-CSU Group in the German Bundestag, Johann David Wadephul that the electoral reform must be approved by the Parliament without any changes as defined in the agreement of January 14, 2020 a reaction comes from the Secretary General of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), Gazment Bardhi.
The latter stressed in a statement made on Tuesday that everyone has understood Rama’s horror towards elections fearing the loss.
In a direct address to Rama the DP number two said: “Everyone has understood your horror from the elections, but your fear of losing power cannot take Albania hostage. Edi Rama read well this statement of the Bundestag and abandon the dirty political games at the expense of the Albanians.”
Speaking on behalf of the CDU-CSU Group Johann David Wadephul did not spare threats that Germany would block the opening of negotiations with the EU, if the majority does not withdraw from the constitutional changes./argumentum.al
