Nisma Thurje and Shqipëria Bëhet have filed a request with the Constitutional Court to annul recent changes to the Electoral Code, which were approved by consensus between the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party at the end of July. These changes partially closed the candidate lists for members of parliament (MPs).
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| Endri Shabani speaking for the media |
Endri Shabani, the leader of Nisma Thurje, explained the reasons behind the lawsuit after its submission to the Constitutional Court.
“Who holds the power to elect MPs? Edi Rama and Sali Berisha believe they have this right. We believe that it is the constitutional right of the citizens. The second issue is the imposition they place not only on their own voters but also on those of Nisma Thurje, Shqipëria Bëhet, and other political entities. Another concern relates to legal certainty,” said Endri Shabani from Nisma Thurje.
A representative from Shqipëria Bëhet also stated that the changes to the Electoral Code infringe upon citizens' rights by taking away their ability to choose the MP they want.
“The changes made to the Electoral Code affect every citizen's right to vote and be elected. The will of the citizens is distorted as they are not given the chance to choose their representative who will go to parliament,” said Ervis Çela from Shqipëria Bëhet, as reported by A2 CNN.
According to them, this is not only a legal matter but also a political one. "At its core, this is a clash between the old and the new, which must emerge in this country,” added Pano Soko from Nisma Thurje.
The lawsuit, filed this Monday against the changes to the Electoral Code and the partial closure of candidate lists, is the second of its kind to be submitted to the Constitutional Court. In August, Dashamir Shehi, the leader of LZHK, also called for the candidate lists to be 100% open.