Non-operational parliament leaves country without ombudsman

TIRANA, Feb. 17 – The result of the parliament boycott from the opposition is giving some concrete results. The mandate of the country’s ombudsman has expired but no new person may be elected by the parliament. It asks for at least a three-fifth of the votes, or 84, which cannot be secured by the parliament without the opposition’s presence.
Ermir Dobjani’s mandate expired Wednesday and he is being replaced temporarily until the new one is elected by the oldest commissioner in his office, Riza Poda.
Dobjani, who has had the post in the last two five-year mandates, has said he will run again for the post.
Running for the post means he needs to have at least 28 signatures from lawmakers. But it would also have been good that an ombudsman is elected by both political wings present in the parliament.