Albania’s Central Election Commission has rejected the request from civil society organisations to hold a national referendum on changing the country’s election system. This would include shifting to an open list system which would allow citizens to vote for who represents them in Parliament.
Three members of the CEC, members of the Socialist Party Denar Biba, Edlira Jorgaqi and Bledar Skenderi voted against the request. Biba said it was a demand that lacked any reasoning. Skenderi said the referendum question was unclear and did not give voters a clear choice.
12 representatives of civil society made the request one month, only receiving a decision today. Three members of the CEC voted against it, while the head Klement Zguri and PS member Rezarta Bitri voted in favour. This did not give the quorum needed to accept the request.
Zguri said that for years, lawmakers have not allowed a referendum and that the current system stops Albanians from expressing themselves directly.
