TIRANA, April 26, 2022 – Several civil society organizations have written to Albania’s parliamentary speaker to propose Përparim Kalo as the country’s next president, according to official paperwork filed with parliament in response to a call for proposals.
Kalo, one of Albania’s top lawyers and a Constitutional Court judge, has received the endorsement of nearly a dozen organizations.
“Based on his legal experience and work with the Albanian state institutions, his personal and professional integrity, political independence and the dedication he has shown in the country’s development, answering the call to civil society to make proposals, we would like to propose Mr. Përparim Kalo as a figure with the right dignity to be President of the Republic of Albania,” a letter signed by five of the organizations noted.
Kalo, 64, is a leader in the legal community who has had close relations with various national and international institutions over the years. He has also served as Honorary Consul of Denmark.
“He knows how to stand above the fray of political parties and marry the interests of the citizens and political elements under the constitutional order, which is what is required in the exercise of important functions held by the President of the Republic,” the Italian Chamber of Commerce wrote in its letter of support.
The Albanian Red Cross noted Kalo’s support to humanitarian causes dating back to the Kosovo War of 1999 and highlighted his political independence.
“He has led many corporate social responsibility campaigns to show the human face of doing business as well as worked for the protection of the environment and fighting corruption,” the Albanian Red Cross letter noted. “He is the right person to protect the interests of the country and Albanians, wherever they live.”
Earlier this month, an important diplomatic source in Tirana told Tirana Times that the election of the new head of state is in the hands of the Albanian parliament. But Kalo as a candidate is seen as admirable. “We would really like to see a president that is respected and has the authority, integrity and who is certainly above the political parties in Albania,” the source noted.
Tirana Times had also endorsed Kalo in an editorial earlier this month.
“What makes Mr. Kalo the right candidate and should be appreciated by all is his authority and integrity. A president like Mr. Kalo, who fits a different mold, would be a breath of fresh air for the country’s political life,” the editorial noted.
Kalo was educated in Albania, the United States, Sweden and Hungary. For much of his career, he led one of Albania’s top legal firms, Kalo and Associates, representing some of the world’s largest companies and serving as an advisor to the world’s largest international organizations, in addition to serving Albania’s business community and public. He is known as a patron of the arts in Albania through the gallery he founded and as well as serving to promote the national gallery and other public institutions. He has been decorated by the Queen of Denmark and the Austrian President among several other international and national accolades.
Albania’s parliament will now go through several proposals and put them to a vote. As per Albania’s constitution, the president is largely an honorary figure meant to represent the unity of the people and ideally should not be an active political figure. But recent choices have been political, which have led to calls to return to more apolitical candidates of the profile like that of Kalo.