After the Territorial Reform Commission, the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party are expected to sit together on the Electoral Reform. The news was confirmed by the ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, who announced that he met with the two co-chairs of the Special Parliamentary Commission on Electoral Reform, Damian Gjiknuri and Oerd Bylykbashi, to discuss the work in the coming weeks.
"Credible electoral processes, in line with international standards, remain a key priority on Albania's path towards EU membership. Yesterday I met with the two co-chairs of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform to discuss the work of the committee in the coming weeks," Gonzato declared.
He stressed that electoral reform should increase transparency in the financing of political parties, guarantee the independence of the election administration and prevent the misuse of state resources. According to him, a comprehensive reform that also includes the implementation of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations is essential to guarantee public trust and the integrity of future elections.
The launch of cooperation between the SP and the DP on electoral reform comes at a time when the opposition has declared "war" against the majority through protests held in the evening, while in the morning the parties sit in joint parliamentary committees.
It remains to be seen whether cooperation on electoral reform will extend to other areas and whether this dialogue will produce fundamental changes in the rules of the electoral game, at a time when electoral standards are considered one of the key tests in the country's European integration process.
