The Socialist majority deems the opposition’s proposal that politicians be vetted redundant and is unlikely to support it.
General Secretary of the Socialist Party Damian Gjiknuri told journalists on Tuesday that Albania has already enough legislation and tools in place to check if politicians have ties to criminal activity, including “the requirement for asset declaration, the anti-mafia law, and finally the people’s vote.”
The opposition Democratic Party has proposed that the vetting of politicians’ assets and their possible ties to criminal activity be done by the special prosecution and courts against corruption and organized crime (SPAK).
The proposal would also require that citizens with a criminal past be prohibited from running for office.
For the proposal to pass in parliament, the support of both sides is needed.
On Tuesday, Gjiknuri also confirmed his party’s refusal to concede to the opposition’s request to combine two initiatives during discussions in parliament: extension of term for judicial vetting panels on one side, and amendments regarding electoral, territorial and administrative reform on the other.
He said these issues are unrelated, stressing that the opposition already agreed to justice reform five years ago, and now has to support the extension of the term for vetting panels, which expires in June 2022. Refusal to do so would harm justice reform, he warned.
Opposition suggestions for electoral and administrative reforms need to be negotiated with the majority, Gjiknuri concluded.
One day earlier, the opposition walked out of the meeting when the Socialists didn’t agree to discuss the initiatives together.
