CORRECTION: In the original version of the article, errors were made when transcribing the quote from Ambassador Soreca.
Soreca welcomes the political agreement welcomed on 5 June. He said that it must now be adopted rapidly as a priority. The Ambassador said that “electoral reform is a key condition for starting accession negotiations”. Without fulfilling this condition, Albania cannot start the first intergovernmental conference, he said.
“That’s why it is so important to have this conditional fulfilled”.
In terms of the constitutional amendments of reform to the electoral system, Soreca said this falls outside the OSCE-ODIHR recommendations that were requested by the Council of the European Union. He said that as per the guidelines of the OSCE and Venice Commission, any changes would require proper consultation.
He called on all parties involved to continue discussions and dialogue and said that inclusiveness is key when it comes to electoral reform.
Soreca’s quote in full:
As you know, the European Union welcomed the political agreement reached on June 5. It was an important agreement, a comprehensive process. It is now essential that this agreement is adopted rapidly. This is the priority because the agreement envisages initiatives such as the establishment of the central commission or the launch of the project on voters identification. We invite the Parliament to adopt this agreement rapidly. The electoral reform is a key condition for starting accession negotiations. It was indicated in the Council conclusions in March 2020. Without this condition, Albania cannot start the first intergovernmental conference. That’s why it is so important to have this condition fulfilled.
Of course, we have taken note of some additional proposals, the so-called constitutional amendments of reform to the electoral system. This falls outside the OSCE-ODIHR recommendations that were requested by the Council of the European Union. We also take note that according to the guidelines of the OSCE and Venice Commission, these changes to the electoral system would need and require proper consultation.
While we acknowledge fully the role of parliament in adopting additional elements of electoral reform regarding the electoral system, we encourage all parties involved to continue discussions, dialogue, in the same collaborative spirit and inclusive mechanism demonstrated during the 5th of June electoral reform agreement. Let me say that inclusiveness is key when it comes to electoral reform.”
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca has affirmed that the EU recognizes the parliament’s right to change the electoral system.
The statement comes amidst a growing dispute between the ruling Socialist majority and the extra-parliamentary opposition.
Socialists are set to change the Constitution and the Electoral Code. While they technically have the right to do so, the opposition claims that this would violate their agreement on the electoral reform.
Speaking from Vlora on Wednesday, Soreca urged the parliament to approve the electoral reform as soon as possible.
He also supported the right of the parliament controlled by the Socialists to change the Electoral Code.
The same logic applies to constitutional changes, already approved by Socialists at the parliamentary committee level, although Soreca failed to mention them.
“We encourage the parties to continue the dialogue with the same spirit of cooperation that was shown in the June 5 [electoral reform] agreement. We have seen some additional proposals for [changes] the Electoral Code, which are not part of the OSCE / ODIHR recommendation. We recognize the role of parliament in relation to the electoral system,” he stated.
Soreca reminded Albania’s politicians that the electoral reform approval is one of the conditions for Albania to sit in EU accession talks.
