The Thirtieth Legislature of Albania (Albanian: Legjislatura e tridhjetë e Shqipërisë), officially known as the IX Pluralist Legislature of Albania (Albanian: Legjislatura e IX Pluraliste e Shqipërisë),[1] is the legislature of Albania following the 2017 general election of Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Albanian Parliament.[a] The party of the Prime Minister Edi Rama, PS, obtained an absolute majority of 74 deputies, alongside its ally, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which secured 1 seat and Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PDIU) 3 seats.[5]

Thirtieth Legislature of Albania

Legjislatura e tridhjetë e Shqipërisë
XXX Legislature
IX Pluralist Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
Four years
History
FoundedSeptember 9, 2017 (2017-09-09)
DisbandedSeptember 10, 2021 (2021-09-10)
Preceded by29th Legislature
Succeeded by31st Legislature
Leadership
Structure
Seats140 deputies
Political groups
Government (74)
  •   PS (74)

Supported by (4)

Opposition (62)

Elections
Last election
25 June 2017
Website
www.parlament.al

Composition of the Parliament

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Election of chairperson

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Procedure for election of the Chairperson of the Parliament

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The procedure for the election of the Chairperson is foreseen by the Article 6 of Parliament's Rules[6] which states that:

  1. A candidate for Chairperson of the Parliament shall be nominated by at least 15 deputies. An MP can not support more than one candidate. The proposal should be made with writing, contains the relevant signatures and is submitted to the Provisional Secretariat of Parliament.
  2. The Chairperson of the Parliament shall be elected without debate and by secret ballot, by majority vote, in the presence of more than half of all members of the Parliament. If none of the candidates has won the required majority, it is followed by a second round, where they vote for the two candidates that have received the most votes.
  3. Voting is publicly organized and chaired by a 5-member Voting Committee that reflects, as far as possible, the political composition of the Parliament. The oldest member by age also exercises the function of the Chairperson the Voting Committee and announce the voting results.
  4. The Speaker of the session immediately invites the elected Chairperson of the Parliament to take his place.

Critics and pre-election process

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On September 9, 2017, which was the inauguration day of the IX Legislature of the Albanian Parliament, began the morning with the oath of the 140 new deputies elected in the general elections of June 25, 2017.

On the afternoon of the same day, a second session was called for the election of the new Chairperson of the Parliament of Albania.

Only the Socialist Party, which was the winner of the elections, made a proposal for the post of the Chairman of parliament. The PS proposed Mr. Gramoz Ruçi, who is one of the long-standing MPs in the pluralist Albanian parliamentary history. His candidacy received prior consensus from PDIU and the PSD parties.

While the biggest opposition party PD opposed Ruçi's as candidature as chairman with the claim that he was a Sigurimi employee and Minister of Internal Affairs at the end of the communist dictatorship.

The Democratic Party along with ex-politically persecuted people who protested outside the parliament the election of Mr. Ruçi's as Chairman of the Parliament, by linking him with the murder of 4 protesters killed by the police in Shkodër on 2 April 1991, time Mr. Ruçi was Minister of Internal Affairs.[7]

Voting Session

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The voting session in parliament was chaired by the oldest parliamentary deputy of parliament, who was Mr. Besnik Bare. There were 121 deputies in the session, since the 19 deputies of the Socialist Movement for Integration were absent, due to the objections they had with the proposal by the Socialist Party. Mr. Ruci was elected Chairman of the Parliament with 80 votes in favor and 40 votes against.[8]

Voting for Chairperson of the Parliament
Pro Against Abstentions
80 votes 40 votes 0 vote
Total of 121 votes, of which 1 invalid vote.

Parliamentary groups

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Deputies can form parliamentary groups according to party affiliation or political orientation. Within 3 days from the date of election of the Chairperson of the Parliament, each MP declares, in writing, membership in a parliamentary group. Deputies elected during the legislature make the declaration within 3 days of the oath. A minimum of 7 MPs is required for the creation of a parliamentary group. Every MP may only be a member of a parliamentary group. A member leaving the parliamentary group may join another parliamentary group only after six months from the date of leaving from the actual parliamentary group. Each parliamentary group, at its first meeting, chooses its leadership.

  • Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party

The parliamentary group of the Socialist Party of Albania is chaired by Mr. Taulant Balla, who replaces in this position Mr. Gramoz Ruci, who was the leader of this parliamentary group in the previous legislature of the Parliament. The Socialist Party's parliamentary group consists with a total of 74 deputies, emerged from the June 2017 elections; thus obtaining the absolute majority in the Parliament of Albania.[9]

  • Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party

The parliamentary group of the Democratic Party of Albania consists of 33 deputies, emerged from the June 2017 elections. It is the second largest group in the Albanian Parliament and is chaired by Mr. Edmond Spaho who replaces the former leader of the group for previous legislature, Mr. Edi Paloka. Despite the fact that the Democratic Party won 43 deputies in the general elections of June 2017, they are not included DP parliamentary group because some of them are leaders of the ally parties (such as PR; PDK; PBDNJ etc.) of the DP; based on a political agreement made between the allied parties before the elections, they decide to be represented in a single list to increase the chances of winning in some constituencies.[10]

  • Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Movement for Integration

The parliamentary group of the Socialist Movement for Integration consists of 19 deputies elected in the June 2017 general elections, in which LSI was represented solely by challenging the two traditional parties, such as the Democratic Party; and its former ally in the previous legislature, the Socialist Party. The group is chaired by Mr. Petrit Vasili, who is also the deputy chairman of LSI.[11]

  • Parliamentary Group of the Republican Party

The Republican Party was not represented in the June 2017 elections under its own name, but some of its candidacies were included in the PD list on the basis of a pre-election political agreement between the allied parties in the opposition, which was then submitted to the Central Election Commission. However, after the constitution of the parliament, the Republican Party created its own parliamentary group consisting of 7 deputies. The group is chaired by Mr. Fatmir Mediu, who is also the chairman of the party.[12]

  • MPs not included in Parliamentary Groups

There are 7 deputies who are not involved in any of the parliamentary groups formed after the parliament constitution. Three of them belong to the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, which failed to obtain the quorum needed (7 MPs) to form its own group. One MP belong to Social Democratic Party, Mr. Tom Doshi.

There are also three leaders of allied parties of the Democratic Party who were elected from its list in the June 2017 elections, but who decided not included themselves in the DP Parliamentary Group. They are: Dashamir Shehi chairman of the Movement for National Development (LZHK); Nard Ndoka chairman of the Demochristian Party (PDK); Vangjel Dule chairman of the Unity for Human Rights Party (PBDNJ).[13]

Bureau of the Parliament

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The Parliament Bureau pursues and decides the administrative issues and the interior functioning of the Parliament and of its bodies. The Bureau of Parliament is composed by the Chairperson of the Parliament, the Deputy Chairpersons, two secretaries on the budget and four secretaries. The bureau its led by the Chairperson. The composition of the Bureau of Parliament must reflect, as much as possible, the political composition of the Parliament. It cannot be elected more than one secretary on budget or secretary from the same parliamentary group. One Deputy Chairperson must belong to the biggest opposition party.

The Chairperson of Parliament consults with the leaders of the parliamentary groups about the composition of the Bureau. The composition of the Parliament Bureau is agreed upon with consensus in the meeting of the Chairperson with the parliamentary groups' leaders. The Chairperson proposes to vote it at the plenary sitting, which takes the decision with open voting.

The Bureau decides on the budget of the Parliament based on the proposals of the secretaries on the budget; decides on the complaints in the cases of the constitution of the parliamentary groups and the complaints of the parliamentary groups on the composition of the standing committees of the Parliament.

The Bureau of Parliament, with the proposal of the Secretary General, approves the Internal Regulation on Organization and Functioning of Parliament Services. The Bureau of Parliament issues the orders and regulations regarding:

  • the organization of the services in the Parliament and the assigned tasks to all its sections in compliance with the functioning of the Parliament.
  • the legal status, the economic treatment and conditions of services to all the Parliament's employees.

The Bureau examines and decides about the disciplinary measures proposed by the Chairperson of the Parliament according to the Article 65/2 of the Parliament Rule. The Bureau of Parliament, with the proposal of the Chairperson of Parliament, appoints the Secretary General of Parliament on the basis of three candidatures from the competition procedures according to the law on civil service. It can approves the annual report of the Parliament's activity prepared by the Secretary General and decides on its publication.[14]

Composition of the Parliament

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The Constitution of Albania mandates that the Parliament consists of not less than 140 members, elected by a direct elected secret ballot for four-year terms. The electoral system is closed list proportional representation. There are 12 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the 12 administrative regions of the country. Parliamentary elections are held within 60 days to 30 days before the end of the mandate and not later than 45 days after dissolution.

As specified by the current electoral legislation in Albania, 140 members of the Parliament are elected in multi-seat constituencies. Within any constituency, parties must meet a threshold of 3 percent of votes, and pre-election coalitions must meet a threshold of 5 percent of votes.[15][16]

31st Parliament

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The two largest political parties in Albania are the Socialist Party (PS) and the Democratic Party (PD). The last elections were held on 25 June 2017. Following is a list of political parties with representation in the Parliament by the 2017 Albanian parliamentary election:

Logo Name Abbr. Founded Leader Ideology MPs
  Socialist Party of Albania
Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë
PS 15 August 1991 Edi Rama Social democracy, Third Way, Progressive, Centre-left, Western, Modernism, Social liberalism
74 / 140
  Democratic Party of Albania
Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë
PD 19 December 1990 Lulzim Basha Liberal conservatism, Conservatism, Nationalism, Pro-Europeanism, Centre-right, Economic liberalism
43 / 140
Socialist Movement for Integration
Lëvizja Socialiste për Intigrim
LSI 23 September 2004 Monika Kryemadhi Social democracy, Progressivism, Centre-left
19 / 140
  Party for Justice, Integration and Unity
Partia për Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet
PDIU 1 March 2011 Shpëtim Idrizi Nationalism, Right-wing, Ethnic nationalism, Cham issue
3 / 140
  Social Democratic Party of Albania
Partia Socialdemokrate e Shqipërisë
PSD 23 April 1991 Ëngjëll Bejtaj Social democracy, Centre-left
1 / 140

Post-February 2019 parliamentary composition

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During the political crisis, opposition parties announced that all their MP's in the Parliament would resign from the parliament on 22 February, more than 40 seats were vacated and the Central Elections Commission started in the following days the procedures to replace the MP's with mostly unknown and inexperienced figures that were part of the candidate lists during the 2017 election.

After weeks of filling the vacancies, in the end the parliament had this composition.

Logo Name Abbr. Founded Leader Ideology MPs
  Socialist Party of Albania
Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë
PS 15 August 1991 Edi Rama Social democracy, Third Way, Progressive, Centre-left, Western, Modernism, Social liberalism
74 / 140
  Party for Justice, Integration and Unity
Partia për Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet
PDIU 1 March 2011 Shpëtim Idrizi Nationalism, Right-wing, Ethnic nationalism, Cham issue
3 / 140
  Social Democratic Party of Albania
Partia Socialdemokrate e Shqipërisë
PSD 23 April 1991 Ëngjëll Bejtaj Social democracy, Centre-left
1 / 140
Democratic Group
Grupi Demokrat
8 / 140
Right-wing group
Grupi partitë e djathta
7 / 140
Independent
Të Pavarur
9 / 140
Vacant Seats
18 / 140


List of MPs elected in the general election

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The following is a list of 140 members elected to the parliament in the 2017 general election. It consists of the representative's name, party, and they are divided according to the 12 constituencies of Albania to which they belong,[17] in addition to noting members assigned to government, resigned or deceased, with their parliamentary functions, chair and deputy chairs of standing committees and parliamentary leaders of the parties.[18]

Thirteen representatives are members of Rama II Cabinet and a fourteenth its elected as Chairperson of the Parliament. MP's can exercise the function of the minister and at the same time hold the post of deputy.

Name Parliamentary
Group
Note
Berat County
Adnor Shameti PS
Blendi Klosi PS Minister of Tourism and Environment in Rama's II Cabinet.
Eduard Halimi PD Deputy Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights
Ermonela Velikaj (Felaj) PS Chair of the Committee on National Security
Fadil Nasufi PS
Gledjon Rehovica LSI
Nasip Naço LSI
Dibër County
Almira Xhembulla PS
Dhurata Çupi PD
Ilir Beqaj PS
Përparim Spahiu LSI
Reme Lala PDIU
Xhemal Gjunkshi PD
Durrës County
Edi Paloka PD
Eglantina Gjermeni PS
Fatbardha Kadiu PD
Fidel Ylli PS
Florjon Mima PD Deputy Chair of the Committee on Production Activities, Trade and Environment
Ilir Ndraxhi PS
Jurgis Çyrbja PS
Klodiana Spahiu PS
Lefter Koka LSI
Milva Ekonomi PS Deputy Chair of the Committee on Education and Public Information
Nora Malaj LSI
Oerd Bylykbashi PD
Rolant Xhelilaj PS
Rrahman Rraja PS
Elbasan County
Anastas Angjeli PS
Aqif Rakipi PDIU
Vacancy PDIU After the resignation of MP Bujar Muça
Arben Kamami PS
Edmond Haxhinasto LSI
Edmond Spaho PD Leader of the Parliamentary Group of Democratic Party
Endri Hasa PD
Elvis Kushi PS
Luan Duzha PS
Luçiano Boçi PD
Monika Kryemadhi LSI
Musa Ulqini PS
Nuri Belba PS
Taulant Balla PS Leader of the Parliamentary Group of Socialist Party
Fier County
Adelina Rista PS
Anduel Xhindi PS
Antoneta Dhima PS
Bashkim Fino PS
Bujar Çela PS
Enkelejd Alibeaj PD
Erion Braçe PS Chair of the Committee on Economy and Finance
Genc Pollo PD
Gramoz Ruçi PS Chairperson of the Parliament of Albania
Ismet Beqiraj PS
Luan Baci PD
Myslim Murrizi PD
Petrit Vasili LSI Chair of the Committee on Labour, Social Affairs and Health
Leader of the Parliamentary Group of Socialist Movement for Integration
Robert Bitri LSI
Tatjana Piro (Nurçe) PS
Xhevit Bushaj PS
Gjirokastër County
Bledar Çuçi PS Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Integration
Flamur Golemi PS
Mirela Kumbaro (Furxhi) PS Ministry of Culture in Rama's II Cabinet.
Tritan Shehu PD
Vangjel Tavo LSI
Korçë County
Edlira Bode PS
Edmond Panariti LSI
Eduard Shalsi PS Chair of the Committee on Production Activities, Trade and Environment
Elisa Spiropali PS Deputy Chair of the Committee on Labour, Social Affairs and Health
Ervin Salianji PD
Hekuran Hoxhalli PD
Ilir Xhakolli PS
Ilirian Pandavinji PS
Klevis Balliu PD
Niko Peleshi PS Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Rama's II Cabinet.
Valentina Duka PD
Kukës County
Flamur Noka PD Deputy Chair of the Committee on National Security
Isuf Çelaj PD
Mimi Kodheli PS Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy
Lezhë County
Aldo Bumçi PD
Andon Frrokaj PD
Gjetan Gjetani PS
Lindita Nikolla PS Minister of Education, Sports and Youth in Rama's II Cabinet.
Lindita Metaliaj PD
Pjerin Ndreu PS
Viktor Tushaj LSI
Shkodër County
Agron Çela LSI
Bardh Spahia PD
Ditmir Bushati PS Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Rama's II Cabinet.
Izmira Ulqinaku PD
Lorenc Luka PD
Luan Harusha PS
Nard Ndoka PD
Paulin Sterkaj PS
Romeo Gurakuqi PD
Senida Mesi PS Deputy Prime Minister in Rama's II Cabinet.
Tom Doshi PSD
Tiranë County
Albana Vokshi PD Chair of the Committee on Education and Public Information
Arben Ahmetaj PS Minister of Finance and Economy in Rama's II Cabinet.
Arben Pëllumbi PS
Besnik Baraj PS
Blerina Gjylameti PS
Dashamir Shehi PD
Elona Hoxha PS
Endrit Brahimllari LSI
Ervin Bushati PS
Fatmir Mediu PD
Fatmir Xhafaj PS Ministry of Internal Affairs in Rama's II Cabinet.
Flojda Kërpaçi LSI
Gent Strazimiri PD
Grida Shqima PD
Halim Kosova PD
Jorida Tabaku PD Deputy Chair of the Committee on Economy and Finance
Klajda Gjosha LSI Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy
Klotilda Bushka PS
Luan Rama LSI
Lulzim Basha PD
Ogerta Manastirliu PS
Olta Xhaçka PS
Orjola Pampuri PD
Pandeli Majko PS
Rakip Suli PS
Rudina Hajdari PD
Sadi Vorpsi PS
Sadri Abazi PS
Sajmir Tahiri PS
Sali Berisha PD
Ulsi Manja PS
Vasilika Hysi PS
Xhemal Qefalia PS
Vlorë County
Agron Shehaj PD
Alket Hyseni PS
Andrea Marto PS
Damian Gjiknuri PS
Edi Rama PS
Edmond Leka PS
Fatmir Velaj PS
Nadire Meçorapaj PD
Sezai Rokaj LSI
Vangjel Dule PD
Vilma Bello PS
Vullnet Sinaj PS

See also

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Note

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  1. ^ A direct dictionary translation would be "Assembly."[2][3] However, the Albanian government uses the translation "Parliament."[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Legislatures of Albania". Parliament of Albania.[dead link]
  2. ^ Hysa, Ramazan (2003). Albanian-English, English-Albanian Standard Dictionary. New York, NY: Hippocrene Books. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-7818-0979-5.
  3. ^ Leonard, Newmark, ed. (1999). Albanian-English Dictionary. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 431–432. ISBN 0-19-860322-3.
  4. ^ "Republic of Albania Parliament". Albanian Parliament. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Results of the 25 June 2017 general election". Central Election Commission.
  6. ^ "Parliament's Rule" (PDF). Parliament of Albania. parlament.al.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Gramoz Ruçi was elected as Chairman of Parliament of Albania". Illyria Press.
  8. ^ "Result of Voting Session for the Chairperson of the Parliament of Albania". Chairman of Parliament of Albania (Official Website).[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Socialist Party Parliamentary Group" (PDF). Parliament of Albania.[dead link]
  10. ^ "Democratic Party Parliamentary Group" (PDF). Parliament of Albania.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Socialist Movement for Integration Parliamentary Group" (PDF). Parliament of Albania.[dead link]
  12. ^ "Republican Party Parliamentary Group" (PDF). Parliament of Albania.[dead link]
  13. ^ "MPs without Parliamentary Group". Archived from the original on 2016-02-16.
  14. ^ "The Bureau of Parliament of Albania". Parliament of Albania. Archived from the original on 2016-02-16.
  15. ^ "IFES Election Guide – Country Profile: Albania". electionguide.org. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Part XII Allocation of Seats". The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania (English translation by OSCE). p. 140. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  17. ^ "The allocation of seats by Albania's constituencies" (PDF). Central Election Commission. 20 April 2017.
  18. ^ "List of MPs by counties" (PDF). Parliament of Albania.[permanent dead link]