"We are determined to fight this battle. We will do everything to guarantee the political will to implement the law, so that this deep political, constitutional and institutional crisis can be resolved through free and fair elections." said today the chairman of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha.
He made these comments after a meeting with US Ambassador to Albania Yuri Kim.
We recall that Yuri Kim alluded a few days ago that there may be an agreement between Albanian politicians to kill the Electoral Reform.
"Albanians must choose the parliament and the government they deserve with their vote and Albania must move forward, not be held hostage to the past, but pave the way for European integration and Albania's EU membership, which is and remains one of the main existential commitments of the PD since its first day." Mr. Basha said.
US Ambassador Yuri Kim said the discussion with Mr. Basha was based on the future, not the past.
"Albanian leaders must meet the expectations of the Albanian people to complete electoral reform by May 31." This is a time limit set by the leaders themselves in their obedience. The opposition has a lot of work ahead, but I feel encouraged by today's discussion and I expect results," said Ambassador Kim.
The Democratic Party thanked the US diplomat for supporting electoral reform.
"Organizing free and fair elections is an absolute priority of the Democratic Party, the united opposition and all Albanians. We are determined to do everything possible to guarantee Albanians the opportunity to go to the polls as soon as possible and elect their government with their free vote, unaffected by criminal gangs, unaffected by the sale and purchase of the vote, unaffected by corruption and money," said Mr. Basha.
Also, today, resumed its work the Political Council of Electoral Reform. The opposition submitted proposals for transparency of party funding.
Suspicious funds in the coffers of political parties have for years raised concerns that behind them is the capture of the state by high-level corruption.
The non-parliamentary opposition went to the electoral reform table today with several proposals on party financing, gender quotas and determining election periods.
While the intra-parliamentary opposition proposed new rules to facilitate the holding of referendums.
Party representatives agreed that one in three electoral candidates should be ladies, that elections be held in the Spring or Autumn, and that private funding of political parties is reduced by law, increasing state funding to keep parties out of political corruption.
The opposition proposed minimizing private funding to political parties, strengthening transparency, verifying funding, and punishing violators.
One of the opposition's proposals is to exclude private individuals who finance political parties from tenders, concessions, and public contracts.
The opposition proposed that private funding be as much as half of the state funding, which in turn is committed to paying more to keep the parties afloat.
Currently this ratio is 1/10. So parties are allowed to receive 10 times more private funding than public funding.
The new report has not yet been put on the table, but the goal is to narrow the gap as much as possible.
The draft law, brought in by the opposition, adds state mechanisms to controlling campaign spending in order to reduce the use of dirty money in elections.
The next meeting will be held after two days, while it is considered the most important by the participants because it is about the secrecy of the vote.
He made these comments after a meeting with US Ambassador to Albania Yuri Kim.
We recall that Yuri Kim alluded a few days ago that there may be an agreement between Albanian politicians to kill the Electoral Reform.
"Albanians must choose the parliament and the government they deserve with their vote and Albania must move forward, not be held hostage to the past, but pave the way for European integration and Albania's EU membership, which is and remains one of the main existential commitments of the PD since its first day." Mr. Basha said.
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| Yuri Kim and Lulzim Basha commenting after meeting |
"Albanian leaders must meet the expectations of the Albanian people to complete electoral reform by May 31." This is a time limit set by the leaders themselves in their obedience. The opposition has a lot of work ahead, but I feel encouraged by today's discussion and I expect results," said Ambassador Kim.
The Democratic Party thanked the US diplomat for supporting electoral reform.
"Organizing free and fair elections is an absolute priority of the Democratic Party, the united opposition and all Albanians. We are determined to do everything possible to guarantee Albanians the opportunity to go to the polls as soon as possible and elect their government with their free vote, unaffected by criminal gangs, unaffected by the sale and purchase of the vote, unaffected by corruption and money," said Mr. Basha.
Also, today, resumed its work the Political Council of Electoral Reform. The opposition submitted proposals for transparency of party funding.
Suspicious funds in the coffers of political parties have for years raised concerns that behind them is the capture of the state by high-level corruption.
The non-parliamentary opposition went to the electoral reform table today with several proposals on party financing, gender quotas and determining election periods.
While the intra-parliamentary opposition proposed new rules to facilitate the holding of referendums.
Party representatives agreed that one in three electoral candidates should be ladies, that elections be held in the Spring or Autumn, and that private funding of political parties is reduced by law, increasing state funding to keep parties out of political corruption.
The opposition proposed minimizing private funding to political parties, strengthening transparency, verifying funding, and punishing violators.
One of the opposition's proposals is to exclude private individuals who finance political parties from tenders, concessions, and public contracts.
 |
| Albanian politicians meeting on Electoral Reform: Rudina Hajdari (the only female), Petrit Vasili (right), Damjan Gjiknuri (in front) and Oerd Bylykbashi (left). |
Currently this ratio is 1/10. So parties are allowed to receive 10 times more private funding than public funding.
The new report has not yet been put on the table, but the goal is to narrow the gap as much as possible.
The draft law, brought in by the opposition, adds state mechanisms to controlling campaign spending in order to reduce the use of dirty money in elections.
The next meeting will be held after two days, while it is considered the most important by the participants because it is about the secrecy of the vote.