TIRANA, Sept. 1 – The main opposition Democratic Party has resumed its presence at the parliamentary commission in charge of the justice reform, pledging to bring their own version of the legislation to the table next week.
The Democrats’ presence has been come-and-go, and they made it clear they may continue be part of the commission only if the left-wing majority will accepts the opposition’s proposals.
Meanwhile, the left-wing majority parliamentary group seems to have almost completed the draft and make it ready to go to parliament to be voted.
The parliamentary commission is supported by two experts of the European Union and the United States and has collected the work of main experts in the field.
The opposition Democrats first declined to be part of the special commission. Following mediation from the international community they joined in.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has said the reform will be completed this year, with or without the participation of the opposition.
He also said that upon completing that step they will ask the European Union to formally launch the full membership negotiations.
The reform is a very complex one and its completion, as the government says, might imply only the approval of the draft program and the first steps.
Corruption is a big challenge for the country’s justice system and the trust Albanians put in it.
This week the parliament also resumes its work with the new session and justice remains a top priority.
