The Socialist majority and parliamentary opposition have reached an agreement to adopt both the electoral reform and constitutional changes. They also pledged to engage in inter-party dialogue with opposition parties not in parliament to reach an agreement on constitutional changes.
The electoral reform was agreed between the socialists and the extra-parliamentary opposition in early June. It was facilitated by the EU and US. Its adoption requires the votes of the parliamentary opposition. Today’s agreement stipulates that it will be adopted in parliament on July 23.
The constitutional changes were proposed by the parliamentary opposition and supported by the socialist majority. They include changing closed party candidate lists to partially open ones. They plan to also amend the Electoral Code after that, changing pre-electoral coalitions with separate party lists to coalitions with a joint list. Today’s agreement stipulates that they will be adopted in parliament on July 30.
Opposition MP Myslim Murrizi noted in the signed agreement that he is against the adoption of the majority-opposition electoral reform changes.
The extra-parliamentary opposition argues that any further changes of Constitution and Electoral Code violate the electoral reform agreement facilitated by international partners.
Following today’s agreement, Prime Minister Edi Rama called on the extra-parliamentary opposition to sit in talks regarding constitutional changes.
Previous talks ended quickly last week after the opposition refused to change the agreement reached on June 5.
On Tuesday, Damian Gjiknuri set a meeting of the Political Council on Wednesday, at 17:00.
