Europe reminds Albania of electoral reform

TIRANA, Sep 23 – European Commission Ambassador to Tirana Helmuth Lohan reminded the Albanian politics they have to finish on time the electoral reform, ahead of the general elections likely expected next June.
Lohan said Tuesday they were very delayed in such a reform that should end much ahead the parliamentary polls next year.
Lohan said that the new electoral code, the identity cards and the make up of the central election commission should be resolved soonest possible.
The ambassador said that such a concern was made known to the Albanian authorities by Brussels and also continuously in Tirana.
Albanian parliament has created a commission to cover the work on the new electoral code. The commission’s mandate is over at the end of the month, after it was postponed in summer.
The commission was created after the two main political forces _ the governing Democratic party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the main opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama _ agreed in April to make constitutional amendments to change the voting system into a regional proportional one.
That work should be completed with the amendments needed for a new electoral code.
The two main political groupings, as expected, immediately started to blame each other for the delay in the work of the commission.
They also said that experts were working on the items.
At the same time the smaller political groupings have made it clear they are against this new system, which obliged them to create coalition with the main parties in order to find representation in the new parliament.
The political fight is always on in this country, leaving little space for the concrete and daily work on concrete issues, like this very important one of elections, considered as a main test for the country in its integration efforts.
Lohan also urged political parties to reach a consensus on the main issues of the electoral code, something that has always been lacking in this politically ever-squabbling country.