Oerd Bylykbashi today remembered to remind us that he is co-chairman with Damjan Gjiknuri of the Electoral Reform Commission. In fact, the only one we suspected of having forgotten this role was Bylykbashi himself. The Commission has so far produced nothing and neither the calendar nor the agenda that he has drafted together with Gjiknuri for any article or law is known.
But several conclusions can be drawn from Bylykbashi's statement to BIRN.
Asked about the draft launched by the Socialist Party for a regulation of the referendum issue, Bylykbashi said that this is an issue that is up to him and Gjiknuri to resolve.
"Any legal initiative related to electoral reform must be approved by consensus, and this includes the law on referendums," Oerd Bylykbashi told BIRN.
"Referendums are provided for in the Electoral Code and any discussion on these provisions should be part of the work of the special committee and should be reached by consensus, based on the decision of the parliament that requires political consensus for any change related to this reform."
In short, from this statement it can be understood that Bylykbashi has a draft law on referendums ready.
If the matter is of the Committee, then Bylykbashi should have the draft ready. But if he simply wanted to rehash what Gazment Bardhi said earlier, then it seems that he has not very accurately rehash the statements of the chairman of his parliamentary group.
If he is not waiting for Taulant Balla to submit the draft for his review, then Bylykbashi should release the draft he claims he prepared himself. In fact, anyone who comes from the DP offices knows that Bylykbashi has never written any draft.
But since he has been wearing the costume of the DP's failed electoral reforms for over 20 years, since the '90s when he missed the chance to overthrow Enver, there are still those who take him seriously.
It's no wonder that he's now starting to believe this story himself.
But for the rest of us to believe it, Oerdi has it very simple: to issue and deposit in the Electoral Reform Commission – where he is co-chair with Damjan Gjiknuri – his draft of the law on referendums.
Since, according to him, with his draft Taulant Balla is distracting Albanians from scandals, let him learn from him: challenge the majority with his version of the law. Perhaps this way he can also distract the Democrats from the scandal of the "race" without competition that is being planned in the DP.
It is enough for him to publish the draft that he claims he wrote himself. Then, with Gjiknuri's approval, perhaps the SP group will also approve it.
