CoE report for Albania

The Parliamentary and electoral reform, the presidential election, the immunity removal and the investigation of four protesters on January 21st, are the issues that they present in their report, together with the conclusions.

PRESIDENT

The CoE say in their conclusion for the election of the new president that “The upcoming presidential elections can play an important role with regard to normalizing the political climate in Albania. In this respect, it is important that these elections do not become a new source of tension and political standoff. The main political forces should try to come to an agreement on a consensual, or at least mutually acceptable, candidate for the post of President.”

By analyzing the names that have been mentioned as candidates, they note that Jozefina Topalli is a close and outspoken ally of Prime Minister Berisha. It is unlikely that her candidature would be supported by the SP and most probably it would be seen as a provocation by the SP, the report says.

While for Fatos Nano, the report says that he has lived for a long time in Vienna and that the SP doesn’t oppose his candidacy in principle, but they do not propose him as a SP candidate.

REFORMS

The report notes that “the overall constructive working atmosphere – at least when no cameras are present – in the ad hoc Committees on Parliamentary and Electoral Reform should be welcomed. The correction mechanism for the regional proportional election results, that is now supported by all political forces in Albania, could indeed increase pluralism in the parliament and should therefore be supported by the Assembly.”

IMMUNITY

“We welcome that the main parties now agree to amend the Constitution to change the excessive system of criminal immunity in Albania”, says the report for the constitutional amends that are needed for removing immunity from high rank officials.

“The change of a system of immunities that is fully inline with European standards is long overdue and further delays would not be acceptable. In that respect, we welcome the priority given by the European Commission to this issue”, the report adds

JANUARY 21st

As for the January 21st events, the Coe repporteurs suggest:

“The parliamentary ad hoc committee, for its part, is investigating the functioning and co-operation of the different State institutions on 21 January 2011 and not the individual responsibility of the actors involved, which it considers to be the prerogative of the Prosecutor General.”

As for the meeting with the General Prosecutor, Ina Rama, they note “In our meeting with the Prosecutor General, the latter complained that her efforts were being obstructed and evidence from CCTV cameras had been illegally deleted.”

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