TIRANA, July 8 /ATA/ – Lulzim Basha, the leader of the Euro-Atlantic Democrats, claimed Monday that the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition deliberately failed to finalize the electoral reform in Albania, saying the goal was “to prevent Albanian citizens from directly electing their representatives in parliament and to prevent Albanian diaspora from voting in elections.”
In a post on the social media following the ruling Socialist’s proposed amendments to the Electoral Code, Basha recalled the proposals tabled by the Euro-Atlantic Democrats for open candidate lists and the diaspora vote.
According to him, under the Euro-Democrats’ proposals Albania was to be considered a single electoral zone.
“Sabotaging the open lists and diaspora vote just finalizes an anti-democratic plan against interest of the Albanian citizens,” Basha said.
“Two initiatives have been forwarded to the Assembly of Albania to date; one proposed by us about the open candidate lists, Albania as a single electoral zone and securing the diaspora vote, and the proposal by the Socialists that keeps the candidate lists closed and prevents Albanians abroad from voting in Albania,” Basha stated, adding that “Albanian citizens deserve a true electoral reform.”
/u.sh/
