The governing Democrats want to remove a representative of former ally SMI from the Central Elections Commission, as opposition cries foul.
TIRANA, April 11 – Albania’s governing Democratic Party has succeeded in a first vote to replace an opposition representative in the Central Election Commission with a member of the governing coalition, sparking concern from the opposition and international observers.
The change at CEC would come as a result of the Socialist Movement for Integration switching sides ahead of the elections, joining the main opposition Socialist Party in a coalition, which gives the opposition a majority share at CEC.
A final vote in parliament would be needed to implement the proposed change at CEC. The vote is scheduled to take place on April 15.
SMI, as part of the governing majority, until last week, had the right to propose a member of the CEC, which now, according to the Democratic Party must be replaced to maintain political balance in the election administration.
The Democrats won the vote in the Parliamentary Law Commission, replacing the SMI member with one from the Republican Party. Opposition representatives said it was an unconstitutional move that calls into question the fairness of the electoral process.
The current Central Elections Commission began work at the end of last year. The new electoral code determined its composition formula, where the two main forces of the majority and the opposition proposed two members each, and then other parties on both sides proposed one member each. The CEC chair was elected with a simple majority vote. Translated into numbers, this formula provides a representation of 4 to 3 in favor of the majority in the Central Election Commission.
One of the members nominated by the majority is candidate of the Socialist Movement for Integration, which until last week was part of the parliamentary majority. But its move to join the opposition prompted Democrats to seek the replacement.
With the SMI move, the opposition holds a majority in the CEC and all zonal committees.
The Democrats say it opens the door for the opposition to manipulate the elections in their favour, a charge the opposition has levied on the Democrats.
Independent analysts say the conflict highlight the climate of mistrust between the two sides.
The Socialists and SMI say the change is illegal, however. CEC members have a term of 6 years. The code itself specifically provides for cases where the termination of the mandate, and none allow for parliament to interrupt it, say opposition representatives.
