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The working group for the Diaspora Vote, the Diaspora Coordinating Council (KKD) Diaspora for Free Albania has sent a letter to the Special Electoral Reform Commission and co-chairs Damian Gjiknur and Enkelejd Alibeaj.
In the letter, "Diaspora" expresses its disappointment for the lack of invitation to participate in the meeting.
Full letter
With this letter we would like to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the lack of invitations for direct participation of Diaspora organizations in the consultative process for enabling the Diaspora Vote at the February 9, 2024 meeting of the Special Electoral Reform Commission. As you know, our group has been part of the working table with the Central Commission of
Elections (CEC) since 2020 and we have contributed to the discussions and recommendations for facilitating the electoral process in the Diaspora. This participation has been important for us, our organizations and all our compatriots wherever they live, working devoutly for the "Voting of Albanians residing outside Albania" and as the vocal voice of the Diaspora in the Albanian elections. In space
Pan-Albanian, there is no non-party group with more experience and commitment in the delicate process of the Diaspora Vote. As an organization with a wide network in the diaspora and expertise in its engagement in the mother country, since 2020 we have given our recommendations to the CEC for completing the legal framework for diaspora voting. The Coordinating Council of the Diaspora, one of the state bodies responsible for relations with the Diaspora, has had and is paying special attention to the representation of the Diaspora, through the Diaspora Vote, a message that it transmitted to you through the letters it sent you in 2023 as well as in meetings with you and leaders of parliamentary groups as well as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The last letter was addressed to you on December 18, 2023. On December 9, 2022, the Constitutional Court against the lawsuit in violation of the right to vote of immigrants, brought by "Diaspora for Free Albania", stated that for the realization of the Diaspora Vote there is a legal gap and the Assembly of Albania had to fill this gap until January 12, 2024. This deadline has now ended and the Assembly did not consider the decision of the Constitutional Court. In order to advance the process, further, the organization "Diaspora for Free Albania" taking the German model as a basis and aligning it with the model applied in 2 Kosovo, which the Germin organization has closely monitored in three election cycles, presented a draft law which was institutionally forwarded to the address of: the President of the Republic of Albania Mr. Bajram Begaj, Prime Minister Mr. Edi Rama, the Central Election Commission and 140 members of the Assembly
Albania. On 11.12.2023, this draft was proposed for review in the Parliament of Albania by the deputies: Mr. Fatmir Mediu, Mr. Gazment Bardhi, Mr. Agron Duka, Mr. Agron Gjekmarkaj, Mrs. Jorida Tabaku, Mrs. Emilia Koliqi and Mrs. Chupi gift. The review of the draft law, even though it is a legal obligation, has not been done yet. For these reasons, we were very surprised and disappointed when we did not receive it
no invitation to participate as a direct party in the meeting of February 9, 2024. This lack of invitations has made us doubt the transparency and independence of the electoral reform process. Allow us to remind you that the implementation of the decisions of the Constitutional Court, in this case the possibility of exercising the constitutional right to vote for the diaspora, is an insurmountable criterion in the process of Albania's integration into the EU. With this letter, we request the possibility of a comprehensive meeting of the Special Electoral Reform Commission with the representation of our organizations. We believe that our direct involvement will be crucial to ensure a process
fair, transparent and reliable elections for the Albanian Diaspora. We consider that the process of realizing the Diaspora Vote is complicated, multidimensional and implies the active involvement not only of the Diaspora but also of experts from different fields, as well as many other institutional actors. We invite you to take this request into consideration with precedence and to us
give the opportunity to represent the interests of the Diaspora in the Special Electoral Reform Commission.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
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