The Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI), the Alliance for Equality and European Justice, and the Party for Hellenization and Integration of Albania submitted joint recommendations to the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, the Ombudsman, the Delegation of the European Union to Albania, the OSCE Presence in Albania, and the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, demanding substantive changes to the electoral legislation in order to ensure more effective political representation of national minorities.
In their joint address, the parties representing the Macedonian, Vlach, Egyptian, and Roma national minorities emphasize that the upcoming electoral reform should provide for the public funding of election campaigns and regular annual funding for the political parties of national minorities. According to them, such support is necessary for these parties to participate equally in political life and electoral processes, as they are currently at a disadvantage compared to other political entities.
The recommendations also highlight the need to introduce guaranteed parliamentary representation for national minorities in the Assembly of the Republic of Albania. According to the signatories, the current regional proportional electoral system does not reflect the demographic reality of national minorities, who are dispersed throughout the country rather than concentrated in specific electoral districts. Consequently, the existing system practically precludes their effective parliamentary representation.
The parties point out that numerous European countries, including Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Belgium, and Kosovo, have already established successful models for the guaranteed representation of national minorities in their parliaments. These examples, they argue, demonstrate that such mechanisms strengthen democracy, promote political inclusion, and contribute to institutional stability.
The document emphasizes that ensuring effective parliamentary representation for national minorities is not only a matter of democratic equality but also an international obligation stemming from the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Particular reference is made to the Fifth Opinion on Albania, adopted in 2023 by the Advisory Committee of the Convention, which recommends that Albania take positive measures to ensure the effective representation of national minorities in Parliament.
The signatories express their confidence that the adoption of these proposals will bring Albania closer to the best European democratic standards regarding the protection of national minority rights and will mark a significant step toward a more inclusive democracy, political pluralism, equality, and respect for cultural diversity.
At the conclusion of their address, the parties call upon the relevant institutions and international partners to seriously consider their recommendations when drafting the amendments to the electoral legislation, with the ultimate goal of ensuring genuine and effective participation of national minorities in the political life of the Republic of Albania.