The process of changing the electoral framework in Albania has been stuck in a political stalemate, as party conflicts have led to the special parliamentary committee being effectively inactive. Despite declarations of consensus, the reform of the electoral law remains without a specific timetable.
The blocking of the process prompted a public intervention by the head of the OSCE Presence in Tirana, Michel Tarran, who, on the occasion of International Election Day, called on political parties to abandon the confrontation and return to the dialogue table.
Tarran emphasized that, despite individual disagreements, there is a common understanding that the current electoral framework does not meet requirements, while he clarified the role of the ODIHR, emphasizing that it is not involved in political controversies.
«Οι συστάσεις του ODIHR είναι για τη βελτίωση του εκλογικού νόμου και εδώ ενθαρρύνουμε το έργο της επιτροπής για την εκλογική μεταρρύθμιση. Ελπίζουμε σύντομα να ξεκινήσει τη δουλειά της. Το έργο της είναι πολύ σημαντικό, επειδή υπάρχουν ορισμένα προβλήματα που σχετίζονται με τον εκλογικό νόμο, ο οποίος κατά την άποψή μας δεν βρίσκεται ακόμη εκεί που θα έπρεπε να είναι. Αυτή είναι μια διαρκής σύσταση της αποστολής του ODIHR. Μου φαίνεται ότι αυτή τη φορά το μήνυμα του ODIHR το έχουν διαβάσει και τα πολιτικά κόμματα. Όσον αφορά την πολιτική αντιπαράθεση, εμείς δεν εμπλεκόμαστε. Όμως όλα τα πολιτικά κόμματα συμφωνούν ότι ο εκλογικός νόμος πρέπει να αλλάξει», δήλωσε ο Tarran.
At the same time, the political leadership is called upon in February to resolve outstanding issues related to the participation of the diaspora in the elections, as well as the distribution of seats per electoral district, issues that are considered crucial for the operation of the system.
Before the committee was brought to a standstill, the parties had even left open the possibility of constitutional changes, as the issue of revising the electoral system had also been raised in the Discussions. for now, however, the discussions remain "frozen", with the political cost being transferred to the parties' sphere of responsibility.
