TIRANA, Sept 20 /ATA/ – Lawmaker Damian Gjiknuri, the Socialist Party’s representative in the Political Council, a working group tasked with developing the Electoral Reform in Albania, elaborated on the SP-sponsored draft on an open candidate lists system.
In an interview with the media, Gjiknuri noted that the proposal envisages a fully open list system and preservation of the gender quotas for the next general elections, adding that the Socialist majority is open to listen to the opposition proposals about amendments to the Electoral Code.
Gjiknuri also explained the introduction of a 3% electoral threshold and the proposal for the parties to run with their candidates when grouped in coalitions.
“The opposition kept on resorting to its abstract political attitude, the refusal and boycott approach, rejection and procedural artifices to ask for the ODIHR expertise without having a concrete issue on the table first. One should understand that ODIHR intervenes when a concrete project, concrete and technical drafts are forwarded for them to render their opinion on whether these drafts meet the ODIHR and OSCE standards,” Gjiknuri said, adding that the no abstract issues and political matters can be taken to ODIHR.
Gjiknuri noted that the election deadline countdown has begun and preparations for the upcoming elections should commence immediately.
“New central election body will be nominated in October and therefore the DP request sounds to me an obstructive political approach to create an alibi, alleging that the majority is finalizing the reform on its own.”
/m.m/ /a.g/u.sh/
