Topi decrees new electoral law

TIRANA, Jan 5 – President Bamir Topi decreed the law “On Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania” on December 30 after the parliament filled the gap he had asked for.
The law was passed by the parliament a day earlier.
It was in November when the parliament first approved the controversial law that small political parties said would eliminate them from parliamentary.
Topi returned the law to parliament seeking more time to decree the election day, for a period of nine months ahead of the polls, something that was not provided in the first draft.
The two main political parties – the governing Democratic Party and the main opposition Socialist Party – said that was not true but also agreed to give him what he wanted.
According to the constitution, the president may only return a law once and is obliged to decree it as law when it arrives a second time.
Topi is expected to decree the election day by January 22 and it is expected to be either June 21 or June 28, the last two Sundays of the month.