Small parties impose change of electoral voting format

TIRANA, April 25 – Twenty-six political parties, including the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the main opposition Socialist Party of Edi Rama– signed an agreement on a new electoral code that would start with the amendment on the national proportional instead of the existing regional proportional system.
The smaller political parties want to have their place, or some seats in the parliament. They want to be the same as that of the Socialist Movement of Integration of Ilir Meta who with four seats has turned into the kingmaker of the government and all its decisions in the last three years.
Monday’s meeting heard all forms of criticism from the smaller parties claiming that the electoral reform being made from a parliamentary commission made up of only the lawmakers of the two big parties did not pay any attention at all to their requests.
It was first Edi Rama who repeated that the Socialists were ready to offer all their support for the amendments. But he also added that they could not do it on their own as the governing Democrats had a bigger part as the governing majority.
The smaller political parties have shown they are powerless as they are very easily divided. It was likely the first time they joined forces in the last two decades as this week. But when it comes to taking posts or seats it is no surprise they betray each other.
That is known very well by the big parties which offer a big post in the cabinet to take some votes.
The electoral reform is in the last stages. The two big parties are obliged to give an end to the work on that issue by the end of this month.
For the moment it seems they have made a big step deciding to use some electronic devices in order to check and count the participants in the vote through their identity cards.
It is also said, but still not clear, that there will be electronic voting, which is also a major step ahead.
The international community is pushing them hard to conclude their work.
EU Ambassador Ettore Sequi said Wednesday they should complete the work by May 3.