TIRANA, Nov 18 /ATA The Parliamentary Special Commission for the Implementation of Electoral Reform convened on Tuesday under the joint chairmanship of the SP MP Damian Gjiknuri and the DP MP Oerd Bylykbashi.
The meeting’s agenda included the formal establishment of the Commission.
At the beginning, the Commission’s co-chair, Damian Gjiknuri, emphasised that the body had been set up with the agreement of all political forces and with the involvement of all parties represented in Parliament.
“Although some parties may not have appointed members to this commission, their place is still secured. Moreover, the commission ensures that any MP, even from a party not represented here, has the right to participate in discussions, speak on equal footing with other members, and propose draft laws or other initiatives related to the commission’s work, as if they were a full member,” Gjiknuri emphasised.
Gjiknuri emphasised that the commission’s primary task is to address the OSCE/ODIHR’s recommendations regarding elections.
“The mandate given to us by Parliament is that this commission must, first and foremost, be guided by the principle of addressing the OSCE/ODIHR’s recommendations concerning elections,” he stated.
Gjiknuri emphasised that there are several key recommendations, including the depoliticisation of the electoral administration, the improvement of the electoral climate, and ensuring a fairer and more equal campaign for all parties.
Meanwhile, Democratic co-chair Oerd Bylykbashi remarked that the commission is capable of performing excellent work, but depending on the parliamentary environment in which the priority objectives are addressed, it may also fall short of meeting the expectations of the Albanian public.
Bylykbashi noted that electoral reform remains necessary after every election due to the persistent deterioration highlighted in OSCE/ODIHR assessments. He further remarked that the most recent consensual electoral reform was implemented in 2012.
Bylykbashi stressed that it is up to the ruling majority to show the political will to ensure the electoral reform benefits the Albanian people, not just the political parties, and warned that without a collective commitment to success, the commission will fail to achieve its goals.
/sm/
