Electoral Reform Towards Boycott?!

Electoral Reform Towards Boycott?!

The Electoral Reform was not voted on December as promised by Edi Rama, and the Special Commission is heading toward a boycott.

The parliamentary opposition, after boycotting the commission's work on Monday, wants to condition its presence with a change in the system, which so far has not found the Socialist Party's consensus.

“We need a concrete, transparent and honest debate on changing the electoral system. Otherwise I personally, and I am sure that even my opposition colleagues will not return to put up a facade for the Socialist Party,” said MP Gjoni.

Hajdari along with MPs fear the secret agreement between the major parties, which according to all public statements do not prioritize a change of the system.

“We do not want the majority to be behind closed doors talking to the Democratic Party and the Socialist Movement for Integration while making an agreement of their choice, then coming to parliament and voting,” said Hajdari.

The civil society has collected 50,000 signatures to urge the Assembly to change the electoral system. But this initiative is expected to come through parliamentarian opposition MPs who support the civil society proposal for an open list for the National Proportional System.

“Open lists are indispensable to me. I understand that amending of the Constitution is difficult in today's conditions, but it’s not impossible,” said Hajdari.

According to experts on electoral issues in Albania, changing the system is not the only problem. According to them, political funding, lack of intra-party democracy and gender equality are not only resolved by the system but require more serious reforms.

EMISIONET