Proportional Electoral System?!

TIRANA, April 8 – The main opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama has proposed the establishment of a proportional regional electoral system, a move that was supported by the governing Democratic party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha but harshly opposed by all smaller political parties. The move was made public last weekend by Socialist lawmaker Kastriot Islami, who is also co-chairman of the parliamentary committee in charge of the electoral system reform.
The new system will be a proportional one divided into 12 regions in the country, a move that, according to Rama, would avoid the use of the Dushk way, which favors smaller parties gaining posts even if their total votes is fewer than in the last general elections in 2005.
The move was opposed by all smaller parties, fearing it would result in many of them being excluded from parliament.
But Berisha made it clear that his party had approved the offer and would vote for it. Reforming the electoral system has been a main point of criticism by the international community which has made reform a pre-condition for the country’s integration efforts into NATO and the European Union.
Both main parties have said, however, they will ask the opinion of smaller parties before voting in favor of it.
The smaller parties have retorted, saying that if the reform is approved, they will ask for a referendum on the electoral system. The new electoral system hopes to see two main parties jointly or individually reaching the proper three-fifths, or 84 votes, within the 140-seat parliament.