Politics of Albania
The political system of Albania is organized as a parliamentary republic. It has a unicameral parliament. The Constitution of 28 December 1976, set in April 1991 repealed. Simultaneously, the " Socialist People's Republic of Albania " was renamed " Republic of Albania ". On 28 November 1998, a new constitution was approved by referendum.
Key elements of this constitution, which is still in force today, are a multi-party system and the guarantee of freedom of expression, religion, press, assembly and freedom of association.
The Office of the President, the Parliament Building, the seat of government and the Constitutional Court building are all in the capital Tirana and thus make them for Albania's political center.
Head of state
Head of state is the President. This office has been held Bujar Nishani since 24 July 2012.
Together with the Prime Minister shall exercise the President of control over the armed forces. The parliament elects the president by a majority of three-fifths of its members by secret ballot for a period of five years. To select candidates must be supported by at least 20 deputies. The exercise of the presidency is limited to a maximum of two periods of five years. The President then appoints the Prime Minister on the proposal of the majority of MPs in Parliament. Itself, unless Parliament in three attempts can agree on a proposal, the President has the right to dissolve parliament.
Together with the Prime Minister of foreign relations and security issues are handled. In addition to these tasks is the president, as is common in parliamentary systems, limited to ceremonial or representative functions. In order to hold the office of president, the candidate must have at least the last ten years in Albania have been resident and have reached the time of election a minimum age of 40 years. In the case of parliamentary representation about President takes office of the President.
Parliament
Since Albania is constructed unikameral, it has only a parliament. The Kuvendi Popullor ( People's Assembly ) consists of 140 deputies. Elections take place every four years. 100 deputies are directly elected by plurality voting. The country is divided for this purpose into 100 constituencies. 40 members are elected on lists via proportional representation. Each voter has two votes on this. The restrictive clause was originally set at 2.5% for parties and 4% for coalitions, but was raised by a constitutional amendment in 2008 to 3% or 5 %.
The main functions of Parliament are the legislation the proposal to the President for the Office of the Prime Minister and the approval of the Prime Minister appointed by the President and the Prime Minister proposed by the minister.
Since 2013 dressed Ilir Meta (LSI ), the President of Parliament.
Parties and civil initiatives
In Albania, the party system has further polarized sharply since the introduction of a lower electoral threshold in 2009 to the two camps out. Among the major parties, which are also represented in the Parliament, the Social Democratic Socialist Party count (PS, 65), the conservative Democratic Party (PD, 50 seats), the Social Democratic Socialist Movement for Integration ( LSI, 16), the right-wing Albanian Republican Party ( PR 3 ) and two ethno- nationalist parties, who are responsible for Camen Party for Justice, integration and Unity ( PDIU, 4), standing for the Greek minority party Association for human Rights ( PBDNJ, 1 ) and the Christian Democratic Party of Albania ( PKD). In addition, the conservative New Democratic Wind ( FRD ), the green agricultural and environmental Party ( PAA), the Christian Democratic Party ( PDK), the liberal Democratic Alliance (AD ) and the two social democratic parties, the party Social Democracy are (PDS ) and the social Democratic Party ( PSD ) is of importance.
Among the most important citizens' initiatives include MJAFT! and Allianz red and black.
Government
In addition to the President, the executive consists of the Prime Minister and the individual ministers. Since 2013 Edi Rama held the office of Albanian Prime Minister.
In addition to the responsibility for the respective departments of the cabinet responsible for carrying out those tasks that are not already assigned to a constitutional body, an authority or a local level. The content objectives of the legislature are defined by the Prime Minister (Directive competence).
Further duties of the Prime Minister are the representation of the government and the management of government meetings, the responsibility for the political implementation of the defined goals it sets, coordinating and controlling the work of his ministers and the administrative authorities and the filling further by the Constitution or Act of assigned tasks.
For each deputy prime minister may be proposed. The Office of the Prime Minister is not compatible with other state functions, or the guidance or membership in for-profit organizations.
Constitutional court
The Constitutional Court (Albanian Gjykata Kushtetuese ) consists of nine judges, appointed by the President in consultation with Parliament. The task of the Constitutional Court is the guarantee of the Constitution and its interpretation. Constitutional Court judges are in office for nine years without the possibility of re-election.
Prerequisite for the clothing of this post is the exercise of a judicial office for at least 15 years. One-third of the judges will be renamed every three years. The President of the Constitutional Court shall be appointed by the judges of the Constitutional Court and the Albanian President in consultation with Parliament. The maximum age of a Constitutional Court judge is set out at 70 years. The Constitutional Court decisions require a majority of its members.
Action are entitled to:
- The President
- The Prime Minister
- One fifth of the Members of Parliament
- Courts
- Prosecutors
- Organs of local governments
- Religious Communities
- Political parties and other organizations
- Individuals
Under certain circumstances, a judge may be removed by a two thirds majority of Parliament from office.
Since 2009 Bashkim Dedja ( b. 1970 ) President of the Constitutional Court.
Regional administration
The Republic of Albania is divided administratively into twelve Qarqe ( "Regions "). The respective councils Qark set by the mayors of all municipalities ( Komuna ) and cities ( Bashkia ) together. The Qark must meet specific local tasks in Albania. So many areas of health, education, culture, regional planning, environment and economy fall for this administrative body. The central government appoints a prefect, who exercises oversight over the Qark councils and the local business of the government perceives that were not transferred to the local authorities for each Qark. The prefects are thus an extension of the government in the regions.
Recent Developments
The current policy of Albania today is mainly influenced by his efforts for integration into Euro - Atlantic structures. The country aspires to join the European Union ( See also Albania and the European Union). 2006 could be as signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, which came into force on 1 April 2009. On this day, the Southeast European country was also a member state of NATO.
But the political life is overshadowed in Albania repeatedly relapse, corruption scandals and the like. The last parliamentary elections of June 2009 were moved out of some incidents in a bad light. The opposition Socialists, led by its leader Edi Rama elections sharply criticized and accused the Conservative government of electoral fraud before. For lack of compromise and dialogue, as in Albania is often the case, then the crisis deepened more and more, and was partially overcome only in September 2011 ( See also Political crisis in Albania from 2009). Among other things, the Socialist Party boycotted almost every session in the Chamber of the Parliament, to Edi Rama on 1 September 2011 ( according to the PS party days in August ) stated that the Socialists on September 5 at the beginning of the new session in the Parliament and its committees will be present. Before that the local elections were marred by some irregularities in May. After the end of the vote count, the international election observer mission OSCE ODIHR Albania called on to carry out reforms in the electoral law. According to their report, the electoral system as still some shortcomings that can be canceled. So far, the chairmen of the two major parties have not yet sat down at a table to negotiate compromises, instead meet again representatives of both parties and confirmed in one point: the election law reform was included in the agenda of Parliament. In October 2011, Albania expects the annual EU progress report. Parliament wants this short period, even as many reforms as possible to carry out, so that the country acquires the status of a candidate country. Whether the legislature at this time passed all required laws and whether the two major parties can resolve their differences, is called into question.
In addition to the main topic EU are also domestic political events for the future of Albania is of great importance. Among the most important here are the jurisdiction of the person responsible for the explosions of Gerdec 2008, the case law of those responsible for three deaths in the anti- government demonstration on 21 January 2011, and some allegations of corruption to leading politicians such as Ilir Meta ( January 2011), Fatmir Mediu (2008) and Lulzim Basha to mention ( during his tenure as Minister of Transport between 2005 and 2007 ).