The new electoral system

The OSCE diplomat urged all parties to accelerate the work, but, as he emphasized, a positive process is more important than the time in which it is realized.

Top Channel: It seems that the love story that started in November between the Socialist and the Democrats had a short life. What do you think about the current situation, with both parties accusing each other for lack of political will in pushing the reforms forward, especially the Parliamentary one?

Ambassador Wollfarth: The political will is a key element in the electoral and Parliamentary reform. We are in a critical time. I would be careful to not call it a “love story” or something like that. I think that this term would be exaggerated for each of the parties in that period, but it could be called a period of dedication. It is very important that this period get used as better as possible, fully committing with propositions and mutual respect.

Top-Channel: Do you think that both parties are late with the electoral reform, keeping in mind that the European Commission’s deadline ends by the end of March?

Ambassador Wollfarth: Together with my international partners, I would like to see an earlier solution. However, the content is more important than the time. A constructive discussion and the proposals for long-term solutions are more important. This is more important than a rushed result. In this context, we haven’t reached what we wanted. For this reason, it seems very necessary to postpone the deadline. However, from now on, each day and each week should be used constructively.
 
Top-Channel: Are you concerned for the fact that both political parties are accusing each other for a lack of political will in fulfilling their duties?

Ambassador Wollfarth: To a certain level. It is important for them to show that they have understood that this is the essential part. However, they must turn their eyes to themselves for seeing if they are offering sufficient political will in the process. It is a game that needs constructive cooperation by all parties.

Top-Channel: The small parties expressed the need for a national correction of the electoral system. Do you support such a request?

Ambassador Wollfarth: Democracy allows a wide gamma of electoral systems. There are many examples in the democratic words, and the Albanians – the Albanian politicians and the Albanian people – should decide which system they like. It is difficult to connect the system issue with that of the Electoral Code reform, because these are in two different levels: while the system is in a constitutional level, for the electoral reform will suffice a relatively common law that doesn’t affect the Constitution. This is another matter, although very important. I will use this opportunity to reiterate the appeal to the Albanian parties to come together and discuss about this too, but by focusing on the Electoral Code reform. I think that these are the results that they need for the next elections.

Top-Channel: If the 52 OSCE-ODIHR recommendations that were made after the elections of 2009 and 2011 will not be part of the new Electoral Code, do you think that we will still have an incomplete code?

Ambassador Wollfarth: This depends on the Albanian partners. There is an Albanian law, an Albanian Electoral Code, and certainly, the solution and the upcoming steps must derive from the Albanians. Some of the recommendations are indispensable. Some are facultative and exactly for this there is a process at the Special Commission. I am happy that since November, and especially after they started working, this process sis undergoing. I would be happier if I would have seen a faster process, although some solutions are already proposed. We see that we are in the middle of the process and I would invite both parties to accelerate the work, in order to be as constructive as possible. WE have seen constructive propositions by the Socialist Party, and we also need to see constructive propositions by the Democratic party; when these will come from the majority and the opposition as well, we will be near an Electoral Code reform that deserves to be called as such.

Top-Channel: A poll on Top Channel’s web page shows that 79% of the voters think that the consensus achieved in November is in a dangerous moment. Do you agree with this conclusion?

Ambassador Wollfarth: I would not use that term; this is a key moment. As I said, both parties need to be constructive, and the remained time should be used well, without postponing the meetings anymore. Maybe it would be better to keep in mind the content of the daily meetings. Certainly, a long time is needed for preparing the propositions, but the process should be accelerated and the time should be used well, in order to achieve quick and well-discussed results, for which both parties would agree.

Top-Channel: A group of ODHIR experts has arrived in Tirana. Which is their mission and what do they want to achieve?

Ambassador Wollfarth: They support the Parliament for encouraging the reforms. The most important thing that should be kept in mind, is that we are talking for an Albanian reform, which is led by the Albanians MPs in the respective Commissions, and not the international community, the OSCE-ODIHR or any other. OSCE-ODIHR is helping through advises, but the solutions, the proposals and the achievements that I hope to see soon must come from the Albanians, so that they can be stable and for a long term. The Parliamentary reform is almost at the same level. We need both of them to push the Albanian democracy further forward.

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