FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Movement for National Development (LZHK) held an open roundtable discussion today on Territorial Reform and Electoral Reform, describing them as essential for the restoration of functional democracy and real political representation in the country.
The Chairman of the LZHK, Dash Shehi, stated that Albania is going through one of the most difficult periods in relation to the state and the Constitution, emphasizing that "corruption has become ubiquitous and almost every day we have scandals involving all levels of government, business, the media and even international segments."
According to Shehi, the way out of this situation is difficult, but not impossible.
"We believe that progressive forces, beyond party and ideological differences, can and should unite to produce a new political project that supports every form of protest, resistance and demonstration against the regime that has been established," he said, adding that in parallel, politics must return to the field of major reforms.
Speaking about territorial reform, Dash Shehi emphasized that changes in administrative division must necessarily be made before the next local elections.
"It would be absurd for the territorial reform to be carried out after the elections. This is an emergency that must be carried out before citizens go to the polls," he said, while assessing that the 2015 reform did not respond to the Albanian reality, as it has increased administrative costs, reduced efficiency and weakened democratic representation.
Shehi emphasized that the LZHK will push with all its might towards a new territorial reorganization that "responds to the Albanian time and reality, gives representation to all citizens regardless of where they live and releases the positive energies of local government, if the latter has sufficient competences and funds."
Regarding the local government election law, the head of the LZHK demanded that local elections be considered valid only if at least 50 percent of resident voters participate and that the mayoral election be held in two rounds.
"The mayor must represent 50 plus 1 of the citizens and not emerge victorious with a minority of votes," Shehi declared. He further added that the two-round system would also give real space to small parties and independent candidates.
Regarding electoral reform at the national level, Dash Shehi listed as necessary the equality of votes through a national proportional system or a corrected majoritarian system, the return of coalitions, open lists and electronic voting and counting. According to him, “the current electoral law must be changed once and for all, because even the last elections did not produce a result that represents the Albanian political reality.”
In conclusion, Shehi emphasized that all of these are proposals open for discussion and negotiation in the coming months, but with the determination that the current electoral system be radically changed.
Full speech of the head of LZHK, Dashamir Shehi
Dear colleagues, friends, well-wishers, contributors to Albanian public life,
Today, LZHK, I, and a group of organizers, gather at this table to discuss two topics of great importance for political life.
Albania, as you can see, is living one of the most difficult periods in relation to the state, the Constitution, and public life. Corruption has become ubiquitous, almost every day there are scandals involving the executive at all levels, but also segments of business, the media, and even internationals.
Therefore, we judge that the path is difficult, but not impossible.
We believe that progressive forces, all together, beyond party differences and ideological orientations, can unite to produce a new political project, which supports every form of protest, resistance and demonstration against this regime that has been established.
However, beyond this, we must return politics to the battlefield, which means that we must necessarily deal with major reforms, such as Constitutional Reform, Territorial Reform, and Electoral Reform.
Today we propose two of these problems for debate: Administrative reform and the law on local elections as the first point.
The administrative elections are closer, and it would be absurd if the changes to the administrative division were made after the elections. We say that this is an emergency that must be carried out before the elections, so that then the local elections can be held with the new administrative division.
The 2015 reform, which was unfortunately abandoned by the opposition as well, showed that it does not respond to Albanian reality. It showed all its weaknesses: increased administrative costs, lack of efficiency in administration, lack of democratic representation.
We will push with all our might towards the reorganization of the territory into a new division that responds to reality and time, gives representation to all citizens regardless of where they live, and releases all the positive energies that local government provides, if it has sufficient powers and funds.
However, this is a topic that is worth coming together again to discuss in more detail.
Regarding the electoral law by which local governments are voted on today, we consider making the following changes:
1. Elections shall be considered valid only if 50 percent of the resident voters in the voting areas have voted.
2. Voting should be in two rounds. This is to give the Mayor the opportunity to represent 50 plus 1 of the citizens of the area. As well as to give all contributing forces the opportunity to be in the political game in the first round, without the prejudices that exist today that this small party, or this independent candidate disrupts the work of large political groups that have monopolized political life and are repelling all the various new progressive alternatives that are the only hope to change the reality that is today. This is completely possible and the Kosovo model of the last elections proved this to us.
Electoral Reform
1. Equality of vote, through a national proportional system or the restoration of the previous majoritarian system corrected with proportionality.
2. The return of coalitions.
3. Open lists in the national proportional system.
4. Electronic voting and counting.
However, all of these points are just an open proposal for discussion, for negotiation, for improvement, in the coming months.
We are absolutely open on this point, but it is important that this law that exists today be completely changed because even the last elections, beyond the abuses, the contribution of Albania's dark environments, produced a result that does not represent the Albanian political reality.
Therefore, we are open to any discussion, but with the determination that this very bad law be changed once and for all.
Thank you!
Lini një Përgjigje