Parliament holds first session of new legislature
On Monday, the Albanian Parliament began the 7th session of its X legislature. Both the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democrats called for cooperation and a unified voting stance during this new session, albeit on different issues.
Context
The Speaker of Parliament, Elisa Spiropali, and the head of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, Niko Peleshi, urged the opposition to occupy their empty seats, especially in the two special parliamentary commissions initiated by the Socialist Party. These commissions—one for Anti-Corruption Reforms and the other against Disinformation—are considered crucial by the ruling party. According to the majority, addressing these issues is essential in order to help Albania’s institutions reform in line with European standards with a view to meeting the criteria for European Union membership by 2030.
The opposition on the other hand has made electoral reform its primary goal for this session. It insists on restoring the pre-2020 constitutional provisions allowing for classic pre-election coalitions, a demand the majority is unlikely to accept, having deemed it a closed chapter that will not be revisited in discussions with the opposition.
The head of the Socialist Parliamentary Group also announced that the Government will soon unveil a comprehensive plan to ensure maximum transparency at every level of governance. He emphasized that this initiative also requires the opposition’s willingness to adopt a new political approach, moving away from baseless accusations that, according to him, tarnish every institution and political representative.
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