Opposition offers electoral package, others oppose it

TIRANA, March 10 – The main opposition Socialist Party introduced a package of electoral reforms Monday offering a proportional election system with closed lists.
The move was supported by the governing Democratic party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha but it was also strongly opposed by the smaller political parties saying that ‘pact’ of the two main parties damaged the electoral reform and their future in parliament.
The move seemed to have deepened the break between the Socialists and the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) of former premier Ilir Meta who continued calls to Socialist members to join his party in a new opposition leftist coalition.
The new Socialist package proposed the improvement of the electoral system and passing to the proportional one with many names of candidates in a closed list based on 12 large districts.
The proposed reforms will result in the constitution being amended, a move that would normally require at least three-fifth of the 140-seat parliament.
Socialist leader Edi Rama said in a television talk show Monday that, contrary to Meta’s accusations, he had made no pact with Berisha. Rama further said his party would be ready to continue cooperation with the governing Democrats regarding the other main priorities in the country, which is the reform of the judiciary.