“Pursuant to the Constitution, these amendments should be adopted by qualified majority, namely 84 votes, but they did not receive the required number of votes and cannot be considered approved,” President Begaj said in the reasons behind his decree to send the law on citizenship to parliament for reconsideration.

According to him, in the process of constitutional review, the procedural violations, which run counter to a constitutional provision, are a sufficient reason for returning the law for review.

The head of state acknowledged that the new provisions do not violate the Constitution’s substantial provisions.

“The new law’s provisions actually simplify the procedures for applicants to obtain the Albanian citizenship,” Begaj said.

Four amendments to the law were approved in Parliament by 77, 78 and 79 respectively, failing to secure the required majority of votes.

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