The Electoral College, the institution that should guarantee the rapid resolution of electoral disputes, is being accused of dragging out the process and, consequently, hindering the constitution of the new parliament. According to official announcements, on August 13, at 10:00, the College was to review the request of “Initiative – Albania is Made” for the allocation of a mandate in Tirana. But the session was postponed to August 25, with the justification that two judges were on vacation. This postponement has raised doubts as to whether we are dealing with a simple administrative delay due to the “August heat” or with a still unfinished political bargain with the actors behind the candidacy of Lawyer Adriatik Lapaj. It is rumored that this “bargain” may not only involve political calculation, but also business interests related to the final decision-making on the mandate.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the appeal of the DP candidate, Andia Ulliri, still does not have a date for consideration by the College. Until all appeals are completed, the final election results cannot be announced. Without the announcement of this result, the new Parliament cannot convene, while the President, according to the constitutional deadlines, must issue the decree for the new legislature on September 1. Therefore, any delay in the Electoral College is not simply procedural, but directly affects the constitutional deadlines and the functioning of the institutions.
The Electoral Code, in Article 157, clearly stipulates that the Electoral College must judge and decide on the claims within 10 days of their filing. In the case of Lapaj, the appeal was filed on August 4, which means that the legal deadline for its review ends on August 14. The KAS decision was issued on July 30, so the College was aware of the case and had time to schedule the session within the deadlines. The postponement to August 25 not only exceeds these deadlines, but raises serious questions about respect for the law and the transparency of the process. When the official justification is the “vacations” of the judges, while unofficially possible political and business deals are being rumored, then it is clear that the process is losing credibility and that behind the scenes, bargaining is taking place that has nothing to do with the integrity of the elections.
