Basha's Proposals for Electoral Reform: Open lists, vetting for politicians and diaspora vote

The chairman of the Democratic Party, Lulzm Basha, has today unveiled several proposals that, according to him, should be included in the Electoral Reform.

Basha emphasized the necessity of open lists, saying that it is important for voters to choose the candidate they want, without the need for "a realtor in the middle".

Basha said that the vetting of politicians is necessary to give the influence that corruption and organized crime have in the elections.

The vote of dissent and the election of the president by the people were two other proposals of Basha that should be included in the electoral reform, as well as the removal of the shield of immunity against politicians.

Part of Basha's speech:

For DP, this is not simply and only an opportunity to deal with the problems caused by contested elections and marked as problematic, but it is also an opportunity to expand the horizon towards a new constitution.

This is an extraordinary job that requires above all political will. But today we will stay at one of the necessary stations for the liberation of Albanian democracy, politics and economy, which are the proposals for the electoral reform.

First I want to dwell on some of the main issues which are not the first submission, but coherence and determination are one of the main aspects that can guarantee the success of this undertaking that requires common political will. In the name of this common political will, we extend our hand today to every political and social factor to put aside narrow agendas, personal interests and join in an electoral reform that gives Albanian citizens a democracy of the European standard.

Starting with open lists. The direct connection of the voter to the chosen one, without a realtor in between. For us, open lists means removing the concept of first timers from the electoral code. Citizens decide themselves which of the candidates they want to send to the parliament.

Listat e hapura do të garantojnë kështu që shqiptarët të kenë një parlament të përbërë nga njerëz që janë produkt i drejtpërdrejt i votës së tyre, jo i renditjeve partiake, jo i renditjes personale, qofshin të kryetarit të partisë, apo faktorëve të tjerë.

Këtu vijmë te pika e dytë, vettingu i politikanëve. Faktorët kryesorë malinj nuk janë Rusia e Putinit apo Irani, faktori kryesor malinj që rrezikon Shqipërinë është korrupsioni dhe krimi i organizuar, influenca e tyre shtrihet dukshëm në parlament, në këshillat bashkiakë, në institucionet e rëndësishme të vendit ka pasur dhe ka individë të cilët nuk justifikojnë pasuritë e tyre marramendëse.

Ka individë që janë për turpin e Shqipërisë personazhe të transkripteve të INTERPOL-it dhe EUROPOL-it.

Cleaning up politics can be done by vetting politicians. Open lists make sense if we end voting inequality.