Albania hunger strike
Parliament approves controversial electoral reform Ten MPs on hunger strike – small parties face a disadvantage
Tirana – The Albanian Parliament decided on Tuesday to electoral reform. On Monday, the international side of a long-awaited project to the competent legislative committee with the votes of the two largest parties, the ruling Democrats and the opposition Socialists happens. The new electoral law stipulates that the two largest parties control the election commissions. Ten MPs from smaller parties are opposed in protest in parliament in Tirana on hunger strike.
“The electoral law reflects the will of the two dominant parties oppose any competition and the small parties, which they regarded only as appendages to eliminate order in the coming years, the power to divide,” said ex-Prime Minister Ilir Meta, whose opposition Socialist Integration Movement (LSI) to join the hunger strike involved. He urged amendments to the Act, which would otherwise serve an “anti-democratic clique” in Albania and to install any political alternative to smother.
Warning against tampering
Of a week ago began a hunger strike was the only way to free elections in Albania to ensure it continues Meta. His hunger strike is also party colleague Spartak Braho warned against tampering; especially under the present draft law representatives of small parties of the votes counted were excluded. On Monday, several hundred people before the Parliament with a protest demonstration in front of the Parliament. The Christian Democrats also participate in the hunger strike.
The new electoral law aims for the international integration of Albania important, higher standards and a regional proportional representation bring. So far, 100 of the 140 elected representatives determined by majority voting rights – one member per constituency. All elections in the Balkan country since the collapse of the Stalinist-isolationist system at the beginning of the’90s have mostly Western election observers can not satisfy. Mostly they ended that the two major parties have mutually accused of election fraud and a victory of each other do not recognize wanted. Often there was lengthy Neuauszählungen or partial election repetitions.
In a rare consensus had Democrats (PDSh) and socialists (PSSh) after lengthy negotiations on the reform in principle and understanding in April the necessary constitutional changes on its way. Both want the protests against the reform through. 2009, the parliamentary elections under the new law take place. (APA)