TIRANA, May 9 – The ad hoc committee on justice reform unanimously approved in principle this week a draft compiled by international experts regarding required constitutional amendments. After many setbacks, the majority and the opposition voted in favor of the draft, paving the way to article by article discussions.
After receiving the greenlight in principle, the draft is currently undergoing discussions in the committee. The first chapter passed on Tuesday, although there were arguments by the opposition over an article connected with the decriminalization process, which was later removed following the opposition’s request.
However, the willingness of the political parties to adopt the reform will be once more put to the test when political issues are discussed.
“Our vote in favor of starting discussions on constitutional amendments must not be interpreted as a vote in favor of political issues which have not been treated by Euralius and Opdat experts,” deputy chairman of the ad hoc committee Democrat MP Eduard Halimi told reporters after Monday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, the head of the committee Socialist MP Fatmir Xhafaj considered the vote as good news for the constitutional project.
“There are several options regarding the format of the new justice institutions. I am convinced a solution will be found, any compromise is on the table for as long as it preserves the essence of the project,” Xhafaj said.
The acceptance in principle of the draft was greeted by the U.S. embassy and the EU mission in Albania.
“The unanimous support for this decision should give the Albanian people hope that their political leaders are now committed to the passage of this reform. Unanimous support is unusual in Albania and we commend the ad hoc committee for this important step forward in judicial reform,” the U.S embassy in Tirana said in a statement.
The news was also welcomed by the head of the EU delegation in Albania Romana Vlahutin.
“I am happy the justice reform draft was accepted in principle. The vote in favor is a positive move, although there is a lot of work ahead,” Vlahutin stated during a message on Europe Day.
After previously having warned that they will not allow that the justice reform fails, the two diplomats launched a series of meeting with the parliamentary groups of the main political parties this week to encourage politics to press ahead with the reform.
The presence of the ambassadors in the meetings of the parliamentary groups raised questions over sovereignty among many representatives on both sides.
“We accept that ambassadors meeting with parliamentary groups is unusual. My presence here is sign of the importance placed on this reform by the U.S. government,” Lu stated after meeting with the Socialist Party group, the first on the agenda.
“We are completely open and ready to approve the justice reform. If it was for us, the reform would have been adopted by now,” Prime Minister and SP chairman Rama said after the meeting.
After meeting with the Socialist parliamentary group, the foreign diplomats attended the meeting of the Socialist Movement for Integration parliamentary group, who has also expressed itself in favor of the draft.
U.S ambassador Lu and the head of the EU delegation have urged parties to complete the reform before the summer break so that the European Commission can recommend the opening of accession talks for Albania.
However, the leader of the opposition Lulzim Basha after meeting with the two diplomats said that the process could take longer, “because what’s important is the product and not the timeframe” .
During the meeting, the opposition leader is reported to have reiterated once more concerns regarding the capture of the justice system by the government.
“The DP is the party of democracy and the rule of law and has supported the justice reform since the first day. The only condition is to have an independent system. This majority has ranked Albania as the most problematic country regarding organized crime. The need for a justice reform has never been bigger,” Basha stated after meeting the ambassadors.
During the meeting, the opposition leader is reported to have reiterated once more concerns regarding the capture of the justice system by the government.
The justice reform draft has been reviewed following Venice Commission recommendations by experts of Opdat and Euralius missions. A few days ago, U.S ambassador Donald Lu publicly supported the draft.
