TIRANA, Sept 12 /ATA/ MP Niko Peleshi was elected on Friday as the new Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, following a vote by members during the inaugural session of the new legislature.
The inaugural session began with the reading of the mandate verification report, followed by the swearing-in of the new members of Parliament.
Subsequent to the oath-taking ceremony, the deputies proceeded to vote for the election of the new Speaker. Socialist Party deputy Niko Peleshi was elected as the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, securing 84 votes in favor and 3 against.
At the session, 138 deputies were in attendance, yet only 87 took part in the voting. The opposition deputies opted to boycott the vote. Rather than casting ballot papers, they were seen depositing posters containing allegations against the majority, which they accused of being swayed by corrupt agendas.
In his inaugural address after the vote, the newly appointed Speaker of Parliament, Peleshi, stressed his commitment to safeguarding the legally guaranteed right to free speech for all deputies within the Parliament.
“The trust you have placed in me today by electing me as Speaker of the Parliament of Albania is a great honor and responsibility, which I accept with humility and dedication,” stated Peleshi.
“My experience in both Parliament and government,” he noted, “combined with my expertise and commitment, will be fully dedicated to serving this Assembly, the country of Albania, and its people.
“With the prospect of European integration closer than ever, we must be driven to explore new political approaches, forge strong national agreements, and cultivate broad consensus. The Parliament remains a crucial institution on this path toward EU membership,” he stressed.
The new legislature of the Albanian Parliament, elected in the May 11 elections this year, commenced its work today with the inaugural session. According to the Constitution of Albania, the Parliament’s mandate lasts for four years.
Following the election of the new Speaker, a subsequent session will be scheduled for the presentation of the Albanian Council of Ministers’ program and the vote on the composition of the new government.
The winner of the May 11 elections this year was the Socialist Party of Albania, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, which secured its fourth consecutive governing mandate by winning 83 out of the 140 seats in the Albanian Parliament.
/sm/
