TIRANA – Ruling Socialist Party (SP) has declared that it supports the Constitutional changes proposed by the parliamentary opposition regarding electoral system. In a press release distributed by Chairman of SP’s parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, where Prime Minister Edi Rama was present on Friday, he said that the Socialist group agrees among others with the opening of the lists in elections, a request of the parliamentary opposition.
“On the part of the parliamentary opposition, an initiative has been taken, which is in full conformity. Today in the Law Commission the discussion was made in principle and I say that the official position of the SP group is that we agree in principle with the 3 proposed changes, in order to guarantee ease in the voting process of Albanian citizens,” said the press release announced by Balla.
“We support the initiative of the MPs of the parliamentary opposition. We believe that this is a step towards democratization. I think that the SP has always been a reflection of what most Albanians want. From this point of view, we support the opening of the lists,” said Balla.
The initiative of 28 MPs of the parliamentary opposition for the constitutional changes in electoral system was approved in principle this Friday at Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights.
After 2 hours of discussions at the joint meeting of the Law Commission and the Council of Legislation, 16 MPs voted in favor of the draft law. There was no abstention, while only Adriatik Alimadhi voted against.
In the meantime, PM Rama, who is also head of SP, said the opening of the electoral lists is not a taboo, but it should not risk the achievements. He was referring to the inclusion of women. “I want to clarify that this the reason it is out of question the change of the system.”
Rama went further on Friday when he declared that he was ready to make Democratic Party (DP) head Lulzim Basha part of the victory. But how? Below is Rama’s answer: “It is clear that I cannot work so that SP loses. But I am ready to make Basha part of the victory… This is not a change of the rule of the games as they are written in the accord. This is a change which involves citizens in the game more than before.”
With regard to the electoral system, the PM was determined not to couch it just because the parliamentary opposition wants the change of the system.
Friday’s busy agenda was joined by Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi who urged the approval of Electoral Reform as agreed on June 5 by the Electoral Council as soon as possible.
Varhelyi said in a note on Twitter on Friday that it is important that the reform agreed on 5 June is adopted by Parliament as soon as possible at its current session to allow swift implementation of new provisions ahead of next year’s general elections.
“Based on OSCE/ODHIR recommendations, it addresses a key condition to start EU accession negotiations. Further reforms related to the electoral system, outside of scope of OSCE/ODHIR recommendations, would need to be in place at least one year before the elections and require proper consultation, as recommended by OSCE,” wrote Varhelyi./argumentum.al
