President decrees law on census

TIRANA, Aug. 1 – Albania’s President Bamir Topi decreed last week the law on the registration of population and housing in Albania, despite opposition from the so-called The Red and Black Alliance, a movement that vehemently contests the registration of population on ethnic and religious grounds.
The civic group believes that such a census could artificially inflate the numbers of the Greek minority in Albania as many Albanians since the downfall of Communism have changed their ‘identity’ and religion to obtain residency and working permits in Greece.
Following the decreeing of the law by the Albanian President, activists of the Red and Black Alliance vowed legal action against the law, saying they will take their case to the Constitutional Court.
The Albanian parliament passed the Law on Census of population and households in July. The census is due to be implemented in October, a move that is openly opposed by some organizations for allegedly trying to undermine the country’s ethnicity.
The opposition Socialists did not take part in the voting as they have been boycotting the parliament since the May 8 local polls.
Minister for Innovation and ICT Genc Pollo, who is also the head of the State Census Commission, said the law met all European standards.
The Red-and-Black Alliance, a civic organization, has been lobbying against such a law and census fearing that the question on ethnicity and religion will cause many Albanians to declare themselves as Greek in order to maintain their jobs and residency in Greece.
They also drafted a petition and have asked the parliament to hold a session on a referendum for such the issue.