TIRANA, Aug. 29 – President Ilir Meta has set Sept. 9 as the date the new parliament will take office as a new legislature, the earliest date allowed under the constitution.
As per the rules of procedure, the first sitting will be chaired by the oldest lawmaker present, who is in this case would be Democratic Party former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. However, he refused the honors in the previous parliament, where he was also the oldest member.
Following the results of the June 25 election, the 140-seat parliament will consist of 74 lawmakers from the ruling Socialist Party, 43 lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party, 19 MPs from Socialist Movement for Integration, 3 MPs from Party for Justice, Integration and Unity and 1 MP from Social Democratic Party.
Several smaller parties in coalition with the Democrats had their leaders run inside its list and will be represented in parliament as well, although officially they will be DP lawmakers.
