TIRANA, March 3 /ATA/ – The ruling Socialist Party (SP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) have agreed to submit a joint draft law on political party financing, seeking to avoid partisan divisions in a key part of the country’s electoral reform, a senior Socialist lawmaker said on Tuesday.
Damian Gjiknuri, co-chair of the parliamentary ad hoc committee on electoral reform, said the move was aimed at ensuring the process is not prejudged along party lines.
“Together with the opposition, we have decided to produce a joint draft so that there are no partisan grievances and no pre-judgment. We want common rules, accepted and discussed with all political actors,” Gjiknuri told a consultation roundtable organised by the committee.
He described transparency in party financing as essential to Albania’s democratic climate, saying the financial integrity of political parties directly affects the health of the country’s democracy.
“Political parties are not simply self-governing organisations. The stronger and more consolidated the rules on transparency, the more secure the health of democracy, because parties govern the country, both in office and in opposition,” he said.
The committee has made party funding its top priority within the broader electoral reform process, Gjiknuri added, saying the new law should meet contemporary standards while remaining proportionate and suited to Albania’s political and social context.
He said lawmakers must strike a balance between ensuring transparency and effective auditing, while avoiding excessive burdens on smaller parties.
The legislation should also address the risk of undue or foreign influence in political life, Gjiknuri said, noting that external financing has posed challenges in other countries by undermining democratic development or conflicting with national interests.
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