TIRANA, Jan 30 /ATA/ – The Minister of State for the Relations with Parliament, Taulant Balla, also the Socialist Party’s political envoy for the Diaspora, called on the opposition lawmakers to join votes with the parliamentary majority to extend the deadline for registration of the Albanian expats , who wish to vote in the upcoming May 11 general elections in Albania.
Balla also demanded that lawmakers support an additional fund earmarked for the Central Election Commission (CEC).
Taking the floor at a regular plenary session of parliament on Thursday, Balla noted that the main political parties have agreed on use of biometric identification documents in elections as part of the electoral reform since 2008.
“Since 2009, one can vote by showing a biometric ID only,” Balla said, adding that the rule was part of the commitment to deliver on the OSCE/ ODIHR recommendations.
Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said that Balla was speculating about the expats’ vote. Berisha even claimed that his proposal on the diaspora vote was rejected by the then opposition leader, now the country’s Prime Minister Edi Rama.
“Back then, Rama threatened he wouldn’t take part in elections,” Berisha said.
Albanian expats will be able to cast ballots electronically or by mail, under a reform passed last year with support from both of Albania’s main political parties.
Albanian citizens living abroad can register to vote in the May 11 elections in a process that kicked off on January 11 and will last until March 4.
/r.e/af/u.sh/
