Local leaders, only two mandates

Facing an unacceptable reality for the democracy, now turned into a monopoly of some individuals, by privatizing the local government, the Civil Alternative started a public debate by proposing changes in the law for limiting the number of mandates.

“By defending the idea that everyone can be consumed after a long time in power, that his ideas and energies get dry and when the democracy standards and the political moral leave much to be desired, we propose the creation of legal mechanisms for limiting the governing period for the local leaders in two mandates”, declared Mentor Kikia, from the Civil Alternative.

The participating MPs at the first but not last meeting, where this initiative was started, have supported the Civil Alternative proposition.

“Most of the Kukes district communes have been led by the same people in the last 20 years, as in Has and Tropoje. One of them even wanted to be replaced by his son, being in an old age”, declared the Socialist Asllan Dogjani.

“In all periods we haven’t been able to realize the standard that we wanted, due to the resistance or other difficulties in the communication with the current leaders”, declared another Socialist MP, Besnik Baraj.

“They have some common characteristics that they make in the communities that they lead, a type of an old and negative society structuring. They manage their administration as an interior family court for which they are not accountable to anyone”, declared the Socialist MP, Gazmir Bizhga.

The Democratic Party MP, Enkelejd Alibeaj, brought some concrete propositions.

“Being for a long time in power, they achieve a series of instruments that are stronger than any kind of other challenger. Yes, we need to limit consequent mandates. This can be decided through article 8652 for the Local Administration, since the Constitution allows it. You can have the right to run for two consequent mandates, but not for a third. You can run for the third, but not consequently”, Alibeaj declared.

Other participators in this discussion declared that the number of people who have turned into owners of the local administration is as big as the damage they cause to the society and democracy.

“The fact that the MPs of both sides agree for an initiative of ours, shows that we are really concerned about what I would call “democratic despotism”, which allows them to be reelected on behalf of democracy and the free vote, thanks to the charisma, the opportunities, the way how you address to the people and how you formulate an idea or program”, declared Zamira Cavo, a university professor.

“This kind of limitation builds democracy, but doesn’t damage it. Certainly, one could abuse even with two mandates. If we decide for two mandates, but one mandate outside and then returning for the third one, it is a method that I think it has been used in Russia”, declared Bledar Kurti, a university professor.

The Civil Alternative says that they will expand the debate for this issue and will create a working team for planning the legal propositions and for lobbing at the Parliament.

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