Three leading members of the European Parliament have warned that the Socialist majority should adopt in parliament the electoral reform agreed with the opposition.
“Any modification of the Agreement without reaching a consensus with all political parties could jeopardize convening the first conference for membership negotiations, and therefore slow down the European integration process,” they warned.
In a joint statement, the Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister (EPP, DE), the standing Rapporteur for Albania Isabel Santos (S&D, PT) and the Chair of the Parliament’s Delegation for Albania Manolis Kefalogiannis (EPP, EL) also urged the government and opposition to maintain cross-party consensus.
They stressed that Albanian should follow best international practices in changing the electoral system, with comprehensive and transparent work starting at least one year before the next planned elections.
The ruling Socialist majority is set to unilaterally change the Constitution and Electoral Code shortly after agreeing on a electoral reform with the opposition. The latter claims that such changes would violate their agreement.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has vowed to adopt the agreement with the opposition first, and then change the Constitution. He claims that this would technically not violate the deal with the opposition. The recommendation to start work on changes one year ahead of elections, Rama says, is not meant literally, i.e. 365 days ahead.
