Albanian parliament creates electoral reform group

TIRANA, May 15 – The Albanian parliament on Monday unanimously approved a parliamentary committee to draft electoral reforms and create a permanent electoral code, which has been a matter of controversy in post-communist Albania.
The committee’s 105 members voted unanimously to draft electoral reform legislation, though in other committee business it has failed to make progress.
The committee will be made up of 18 members with the governing coalition and opposition sharing an equal number of nine seats each.
There are proposals that the electoral process be changed into a proportional zone system as well as other amendments, which may require a constitutional amendment.
International institutions have always criticized the way elections have been held in Albania noting many shortcomings, beginning with the voters’ list.