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"Rama has not yet found the candidate": How the deadline for the new elections in Kukës risks being violated, the Government and the Presidency blame each other

2023-07-12 15:37:24Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
"Rama has not yet found the candidate": How the deadline for the new
Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Bajram Begaj

The early elections to replace the sacked mayor of Kukës, Safet Gjici, risk not being held within the legal limits, as the responsible institutions blame each other for clerical practices.

Gjici was re-elected on May 14, but resigned on June 16 and was dismissed from the Council of Ministers on the same day, after a video of him having sex with a woman in the office circulated on the Internet and was arrested a few days later for " passive corruption".

The decision to dismiss him was effective immediately, even though it was published in the Official Gazette on June 26.

The Electoral Code stipulates that elections must be held within 45 days, but the President has not yet announced a date, even though a month has passed since it was called.

The institution of the President of the Republic told BIRN on Wednesday that it was awaiting the announcement of the vacancy by the Council of Ministers.

"As soon as the vacancy in the Presidency officially arrives," replied a spokeswoman for the Presidency.

She claimed that the public announcement was not enough, nor the one in the Official Gazette, but the institution had to be informed in writing as well. The Presidency asked for time for an answer when asked on which legal provisions this practice was based.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office claims that it has fulfilled its duty by publishing the decision.

"The decision was published on time in the Official Gazette," said spokeswoman Manjola Hasa.

The ping pong between the Prime Minister's Office and the Presidency seems to be related to the ambiguity of the majority regarding the candidate for mayor of Kukes.

Two independent sources from the Socialist Party told BIRN that Prime Minister Edi Rama "has not yet found a new candidate for Kukës", considered a stronghold of the Democrats.

Article 10 of the Electoral Code specifies that: "In case of termination of the mandate, for the reasons provided for in Article 115 of the Constitution, the elections shall be held no earlier than 30 days and no later than 45 days from the date of notification of the termination of the mandate" . The Code does not specify the method of notification between institutions.

Ekspertët e shohin çështjen si mangësi në integritetin institucional për aplikimin në raste të tilla të praktikave të mira administrative dhe si mungesë vullneti për zbatimin e ligjit zgjedhor.

Afrim Krasniqi, drejtori i Institutit të Studimeve Politike, një organizatë që monitoron zgjedhjet, thotë se data për rizgjedhjen e kryebashkiakut të Kukësit duhet të mbahen mes datës 16-30 korrik dhe se KQZ duhej të njoftonte për vakancën.

“Shkarkimi i tij ka ndodhur më 16 qershor. Në dijeninë time Gjici nuk e ka ankimuar në Gjykatë Kushtetuese vendimin, kështu që pas datës 16 qershor do të duhej të njoftohej data e zgjedhjeve mes 16 korrikut dhe 30 korrikut,” tha ai.

Sipas Krasniqit, procedura do të ishte ndryshe nëse do të ishte bërë me akt dorëheqje, siç njoftoi fillimisht Gjici, por në rastin e shkarkimit procedura është më e shpejtë.

"The two acts have not been clarified," he adds, "but as a rule, the Central Election Commission would have to inform the President of the Republic in writing about the situation created and suggest a date for the elections within the terms of the Electoral Code."

Meanwhile, the CEC claims that this is an issue that is not related to the powers of this institution, but of the government.

The State Commissioner of Elections, Ilirian Celibashi, when asked by BIRN about the clash between the Prime Minister's Office and the Presidency and whether the CEC can play a role by notifying the Presidency of the vacancy, said: "This is entirely a matter for the government".

"It is within her competence to announce possible vacancies. The CEC does not have any proactive role in this process," Celibashi added, not giving further comments on the question of whether the prime minister was violating the law. / Reporter.al


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