The Democratic Party must support external voting for the Diaspora

Few were surprised by the inability of Albania’s two main political forces to reach consensus on electoral reform. The parties were simply too far in their positions regarding the reinstatement of pre-electoral coalitions for consensus to be on the cards. But there is one crucial issue in the reform that demands a departure from narrow party agendas: enabling external voting for the Diaspora. This issue transcends partisan divides. It must be treated as a national cause that deserves the support and genuine efforts to make it happen from all parties. Simply put, guaranteeing the Diaspora’s voting rights is a fundamental test of both parties’ dedication to the millions of Albanians that live and work abroad.

For years, both the Socialists and Democrats have publicly declared that they support external voting for the Diaspora. Both have accused each other of not wanting it and, as on many other issues, the Albanian public, at home and in the far-flung Diaspora, has often split along party lines in assigning blame for the fact that in 2024 the Albanian Diaspora still cannot participate in the general elections in Albania through external voting.

This time the situation is different. The Socialist Party has taken a proactive step by introducing concrete amendments aimed at facilitating external voting. The proposed amendments are a response to longstanding demands from the Diaspora community and are based on solutions proposed by the Diaspora. Central to the proposals is the establishment of a unified National Overseas Voter List managed by the Central Election Commission (CEC). This list would enable eligible emigrants to register as voters, in a registration process that would start 100 days before election day and conclude 50 days prior. Ballots would be dispatched to overseas addresses, with strict deadlines ensuring their return to the CEC before election day for counting and assessment. The measures seem designed to guarantee transparency and enhance the participation of all Albanian citizens in the country’s parliamentary elections, regardless of their geographical location.

The proposal has put the Democratic Party in a difficult position. Having frequently accused the Socialists of insincerity regarding Diaspora voting rights, they now face a stark choice. With the Socialists presenting a detailed proposal that aligns closely with Diaspora expectations, the Democrats are faced with two options: they can either join the Socialists in amending the Electoral Code in order to guarantee the vote of the Diaspora, or risk exposing their professed support as mere insincere rhetoric.

It is no easy choice for the Democrats who to date seem to have bet that the Socialists would never force their hand by submitting a concrete proposal. Now they find themselves forced to choose one of two options that currently do not seem very attractive.

Recent massive and enthusiastic meetings by Prime Minister Rama with the two largest and most politically engaged Albanian Diaspora communities, in Greece and Italy, must have rang alarm bells for the Democrats. There are rumors that the Democrats may be considering a potential shift in their stance towards Diaspora voting, afraid that they cannot match the Socialists’ infrastructure and mobilization capacities among the Diaspora. But if this is indeed the case and the Democrats have reconsidered their position on external voting for the Diaspora, a candid admission would be much more respected and understandable than attempting to justify their shift by accusing the Socialists who have clearly decided to call their bluff.

It is difficult to exaggerate the contribution the Albanian Diaspora has given to its homeland, to Albanian society, to tens of thousands of Albanian families, during some of the most difficult decades in the country’s history. Their contribution has helped hundreds of thousands survive economically but has also helped Albania’s economy keep its head above water during the terrible decades of the country’s post-communist transition. And their contribution is not confined to the economy; it extends to all aspects of the country’s life from culture and know-how to promoting Albania’s image in the world. Despite these contributions and despite constant request, Albanian politics has to date failed to accord the Diaspora the one thing they have asked for above all others: the possibility to participate in the democratic process through external voting.

The Socialists have put their cards on the table. There is hope that the Democrats will join them, either by supporting their proposals outright or by putting their own proposal on the table. But they should do so keeping in mind that the deadline for any amendments to be approved by parliament is the parliamentary session of July 24. If this deadline is not met, the Albanian Diaspora will not have the possibility to participate in the general elections through external voting in 2025.  

Thus, the ball is now on the court of the Democratic Party. They have a little more than two weeks to demonstrate how genuine is their commitment to the Diaspora’s voting rights. This necessitates prioritizing the broader interests of inclusive democracy over narrower political considerations. Failure to do so would not only perpetuate the practical disenfranchisement of the Diaspora but also undermines the credibility of the Democratic Party and their advocacy on this issue.