The Albanian Parliament has closed applications for the new Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination.
VNA has learned the names of the candidates, among whom Alfred Balla, former head of the High Prosecutorial Council, and Genta Tafaj, former head of vetting, stand out.
There are 7 names in total in the race, but again it is politics that decides whether this race will produce a new leader for that institution. This is because this is the second time that the Assembly has opened the race for this position. Last year, when the race was opened, among others, constitutional judge Sonila Bejtja also ran.
But the DP announced from the Assembly through Gazment Bardhi that she had withdrawn from the race, since she had not done her calculations well, and that she had to remain at the Constitutional Court until her replacement arrived.
The head of the democratic group dismissed rumors that a "political bargain" had been made for the judge close to the opposition to take the position with a 5-year mandate. But despite this, neither the SP nor the DP gave supporting signatures to all other candidates in the race, burning the process.
Without any great haste, the competition was reopened with the signature of Jorida Tabaku, but as it seems from the new applications, Judge Bejtja, who holds the chair at the Constitutional Court, is not among the aspirants, as her successor has not yet arrived.
It remains to be seen whether the SP or the DP will find a name from this new list to vote for with 71 cards, or will they burn the process again, until the conditions are ripe for specific names to be ready to compete.
Full list of candidates
1. Alfred Balla
2. Brunilda Menalla
3. Rozeta Ivanova
4. Genta Tafaj
5. Ermonela Xhafaj
6. Brikena Luto
7. Sonila Hysi Ruka
