TIRANA, April 4 – President Bujar Nishani has returned to parliament for review a controversial law recently adopted by the majority which requires all institutions and private businesses to install surveillance cameras, motivating his decision with the fact that the law infringes the citizens’ right to privacy.
“This law violates the right to respect for private and family life guaranteed by the Constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights,” the President’s office said in a statement.
According to the President, the law also does not provide any adequate safeguards for personal data obtained and stored by the surveillance cameras.
On the other hand, the government claims that the installation of security cameras will help police trace perpetrators of crimes and also contribute to the fight against terrorism.
The Interior Ministry defended the law saying that it has been drafted in cooperation with international partners and it has been consulted with interest groups, including the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.
“International experts have continuously made their suggestions on the draft, remarks which have been reflected in the law passed in parliament,” the Interior Ministry said in a press release.
The law obliges business owners, private and public institutions as well as public transport vehicles to install security cameras whose footage will be made available to law enforcement agencies for investigation purposes.
However, experts say that the installation of cameras in public spaces infringes privacy rights and could turn into a blackmail tool. They also question the government’s authority over forcing businesses to install cameras by law.
The bill passed by parliament in March with 61 votes in favor split the ruling coalition with most MPs from the junior ruling party, the Socialist Movement for Integration, voting against the controversial law. Meanwhile, the opposition although present in the plenary session, did not take part in the voting.
After the President’s refusal to sign the law, the draft requires the backing of 71 MP to pass.
The President and the majority have been frequently at odds over legislation adopted by parliament with the President returning to the chamber for review of several legal initiatives proposed by the government.
A few days ago, the President blocked the amendments to the law on audiovisual media with the motivation that the law violates the independence of the public broadcaster RTSH.
The President has also addressed the Constitutional Court for an opinion regarding a law on the restitution of property seized under communist rule, after the parliament refused to revise the bill.
