Albanian presidential election, 2012

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Albanian presidential election of 2012
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  Bujar Nishani at meeting with Michael Spindelegger.jpg
Nominee Bujar Nishani
Party Democratic
Popular vote73 of 140 MPs
Percentage52.14%
President before election

Bamir Topi
Democratic

Elected President

Bujar Nishani
Democratic

Indirect presidential elections were held in Albania on 30 May, 4, 8 and 11 June 2012. [1] the seventh such elections since the collapse of the communist regime in 1991. The first through third rounds of voting were inconclusive. The fourth round resulted in the incumbent party's member Bujar Nishani being elected as President.

An indirect election is an election in which voters do not choose between candidates for an office, but elect people who then choose. It is one of the oldest forms of elections, and is still used today for many presidents, cabinets, upper houses, and supranational legislatures. Presidents and prime ministers can be indirectly elected by parliaments or by a special body convened solely for that purpose. The election of the executive government in most parliamentary systems is indirect: elect the parliamentarians, who then elect the government including most prominently the prime minister from among themselves. Upper houses, especially of federal republics, can be indirectly elected by state legislatures or state governments. Similarly, supranational legislatures can be indirectly elected by constituent countries' legislatures or executive governments.

Albania country in Southeast Europe

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a country in Southeast Europe on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea within the Mediterranean Sea. It shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east, Greece to the south and a maritime border with Italy to the west.

Fall of communism in Albania event, starting in December 1990 with student protests; political pluralism was allowed on 11 December; the Labor Party won the 1991 elections (in a coalition with non-communists), but lost the 1992 elections amid economic collapse and social unrest

The fall of Communism in Albania, the last such event in Europe outside the USSR, started in earnest on December 1990 with student demonstrations in the capital, Tirana, although protests had begun earlier that year in other cities. The Central Committee of the communist Party of Labour of Albania allowed political pluralism on 11 December and the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, was founded the next day. March 1991 elections left the Party of Labour in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a "stability government" that included non-communists. Albania's former communists were routed in elections in March 1992 amid economic collapse and social unrest, with the Democratic Party winning most seats and its party head, Sali Berisha, becoming president.

Contents

The President of Albania is elected through a secret vote and without debate by the Parliament of Albania by a majority of three-fifths majority of all its members. The Constitution of Albania sets a limit to a maximum of two terms in office. [2] When this majority is not reached in the first round of voting, a second round takes place within seven days. If such a majority is still not reached, a third round must take place within a further period of seven days. If even in the first three rounds no candidate has attained the necessary majority, a further two rounds must be held within seven days, with the majority needed to win being reduce to an absolute majority or 50% +1 vote of the total Members of the Parliament. If after five rounds of voting no candidate has attained the necessary majority outlined for each round of voting in the Parliament, the Parliament will be dissolved and a general election must occur within 60 days. [3]

President of Albania head of state of Albania and commander-in-chief of the Albanian military

The President of Albania, officially styled the President of the Republic of Albania, is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the military and the representative of the unity of the Albanian people.

Parliament of Albania Parliament of Albania

The Parliament of Albania or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of not less than 140 members elected to a four-year term on the basis of direct, universal, periodic and equal suffrage by secret ballot. The Parliament is presided over by a Speaker of the Parliament, who is assisted by at least one deputy speaker. The electoral system is based on party-list proportional representation. There are 12 multi-seat constituencies, corresponding to the country's administrative divisions.

It is the fundamental law of the Republic of Albania. The present Constitution of Albania was adopted by the Parliament on 28 November 1998. It is split up over many different acts. The document succeeded the 1976 Constitution, originally adopted at the creation of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania on 28 December 1976 and heavily amended on 29 April 1991.

Candidates

While the two major parties (the ruling Democratic Party and the oppositional Socialist Party) are bickering about the name of the new Head of State, some smaller parties have already proposed their candidates. The Albanian Christian Democratic Movement has formally announced the current Speaker of Parliament Jozefina Topalli as their presidential nominee, this was a surprising choice as Topalli has widely been seen and speculated upon by the media as the potential Democratic Party candidate for the post. [4]

Democratic Party of Albania political party

The Democratic Party of Albania is a conservative political party in Albania. The party became the leading party in the governing coalition following the 2005 parliamentary elections. It is an associate member of the European People's Party (EPP) and a full member of the International Democrat Union and Centrist Democrat International. Rilindja Demokratike is the party's official newspaper.

Socialist Party of Albania Albanian political party

The Socialist Party of Albania, is a social-democratic political party in Albania; it gained power following the 2013 parliamentary election. The party seated 66 MPs in the 2009 Albanian parliament. It achieved power in 1997 following a political crisis and governmental realignment. At the 2001 parliamentary election the party secured 73 seats, which enabled it to form a government. At the general election of 3 July 2005, the Socialist Party lost its majority and the Democratic Party of Albania (PD) formed the new government, having secured, with its allies, a majority of 81 seats.

The Albanian Christian Democratic Movement is a Christian-democratic political party in Albania founded by Nikollë Lesi, an MP and former member of the Demochristian Party of Albania (PDK) on 8 November 2007 over disagreements with his previous party's new party leader, Nard Ndoka. Lesi expects to at least match the PDK's performance in the 2005 election at the next election. The party had one MP in the Assembly of Albania until the Albanian parliamentary election, 2009.

Other smaller parties have also presented their candidates. The Democratic Alliance Party has officially proposed the name of its current leader Neritan Ceka as the party's nominee for the presidential race. For the representative of this party Ceka has all the chances to be chosen as a compromise candidate and win the support of all the parties. [4]

The Democratic Alliance Party is a liberal political party in Albania. The party was formed in 1992 by Neritan Ceka and other dissidents of the Democratic Party of Albania. They opposed the leadership of the party's leader Sali Berisha. The Democratic Alliance Party became part of a socialist led government in 1997. In the June 2001 elections it received 2.4% of the vote and three members of parliament. The party continued in government. In the elections in July 2005 it won 3 seats in Parliament.

Neritan Ceka Albanian politician and archaeologist

Neritan Ceka is an Albanian archaeologist, professor, and politician. He served as Albania's Minister of Internal Affairs from 27 July 1997 to 18 April 1998.

Aleko Gjergjo and Hajredin Fratari are the two candidates that have been proposed by the Democratic National Front Party.[ citation needed ]

Democratic National Front Party

Democratic National Front Party (PBKD), also sometimes referred to as the Right National Front or Right National Party, is a political party in Albania led by Artur Roshi. It was formed in 1998 by breaking away from the ultra-nationalist National Front. The PBKD is a right-wing group with nationalist policies which aim to create a Greater Albania. It remains closely linked to the National Front, but has made its policies more moderate.

A name that has been speculated upon by the media to be a strong contender in the presidential race is that of former Prime Minister and presidential candidate Fatos Nano. He received only 3 votes in the previous presidential election held in 2007 because most members of the opposition coalition led by the Socialist Party did not support him, however, and chose to boycott this Presidential Election. [5]

Prime Minister of Albania head of government of the Republic of Albania

The Prime Minister of Albania, officially styled the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, is the head of government of the Republic of Albania and as well the most powerful and influential person in Albanian politics. The Prime Minister holds the executive power of the nation and represents the Council of Ministers and chairs its meetings.

Fatos Nano Albanian politician

Fatos Thanas Nanolisten (help·info) is an Albanian socialist politician who was the Prime Minister of Albania several times; he was the first leader and founder of the Socialist Party of Albania and a member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009. He reformed the Anti-Revisionist Marxist-Leninist ideology of the Labor Party of Albania into social democracy for its successor, the Socialist Party. During his leadership, the Socialist Party, as a result of reforms, joined the Socialist International and Party of European Socialists. Nano was a candidate in the 2007 presidential election but did not win. He again tried in the 2012 presidential election, but he did not even qualify as a candidate, because the leaders of parties in Parliament obstructed their respective MPs to elect him as candidate in the elections.

Unity for Human Rights Party have officially stated its support for Nano's nomination. [6]

The Student Council of the Luigj Gurakuqi University of Shkodra proposed Ismail Kadare as president, but Kadare as had done in 2007 refuse to become president of the country.

The full name list proposed by the majority Berisha-Meta Cabinet: [7]

Xhezair Zaganjori, a member of the Constitutional Court has been named by the governing coalition as their main compromise candidate for the post of president.

The full name list individually proposed by the deputies of Socialist Party: [8]

Election

First round

The Socialist Party rejected Zaganjori, as the first round of voting on 30 May failed without a vote. [9] It accused the Democratic Party of not consulting them over the move to elect Zaganjori. Parliamentary speaker Jozefina Topalli said that "I urge all political parties to pursue a spirit of acceptance, and then the solution will come in the second or third round." [10]

Second round

On 4 June, there was still a lack of a consensus between the ruling party and the opposition. The session lasted only two minutes, just enough time to declare that no nominees had been presented. The Democratic Party insisted on naming Zaganjori, with Prime Minister Sali Berisha saying that "we've done our part, we gave up our initial positions, renouncing a political candidature and take a step towards the opposition in order to reach a mutual agreement. Let's hope the opposition do their part now." The Socialist Party countered in saying that Zaganjori's nomination was put forward unilaterally and asked for more negotiations to reach a compromise. The Leader of the Opposition Edi Rama said that "our objective is to give the country a head of state who receives support both from the government and the opposition. We aren't laying out any conditions. The government must make it possible for us to also make a contribution." [11]

Third round

On 8 June, no vote was taken as there was no candidate following the Socialist Party's rejection of Zaganjori. [12] Zaganjori then withdrew his candidacy, [13] stating that he wanted to be elected as a consensus candidate and as the opposition did not trust him he did not want to be elected with the governmening party's votes alone. [14]

Fourth round

On 10 June, the day before the vote, a meeting between the leaders of the Socialist Party, the Democratic Party, the Socialist Movement for Integration and Justice for Integration and Unity was inconclusive, the proposed candidates for the first list were: Arben Imami (Minister of Defense), Bujar Nishani (Minister of Interior), Artan Hoxha (columnist), Petraq Milo (prime minister's adviser). A second non-political list included: Edmond Islamaj (member of Supreme Court of Albania), Vitore Tusha also member of Supreme Court, Ledio Bianku. The Socialist Movement for Integration's Ilir Meta said the consensus candidate would be Hoxha, although the opposition was rumoured to have named Pandeli Majko as their candidate [15]

On the day of the vote, Hoxha withdrew his candidacy saying: [16]

Until yesterday night I hoped that the presidential process would have the minimal spirit of understanding and consensus, and this morning, after receiving hundreds of congratulatory messages, with some of them coming from Socialist Party members, I have continued to hope that the presidential process still promised consensus. But seeing the aggressive stances of Socialist exponents and their media, including slander and blackmail, I reached the conclusion that the presidential process cannot have the minimum of civilization, and due to the political interests, the process will not be allowed to contribute the civil factors. I have followed the presidential process very closely and have commented for a reasonable and consensual reason. I thought to contribute in the last session for the same goal, but based on what I declared above, I cannot be part of this process which apparently warns a storm.

The Democratic Party's parliamentary leader, Astrit Patozi, said that Nishani would be the candidate at a voting session at 17:00. The Socialist Party's Edi Rama also said that Fatos Nano would not be the party's candidate: "If Nano’s candidacy would be consensual, we would not break the consensus, but he cannot be our candidate, because we cannot break our principles and ruin Albania’s opportunity for the EU candidate status." He also said the Socialist Party would never support Hoxha as "it is unacceptable for a minister to become president, especially in a time of crisis like the one we’re in." Nano reacted to the Socialist Party's decision in saying that "this is the moment when the party leaders should think beyond their close political accounts that have deteriorated Albania, and show their full responsibility for the love of the country, with its values and merits that a European country deserves." He also said that he proposed himself as a consensus candidate to bring about a solution and preface a possible Socialist Party win in the next parliamentary election, as well as a win for all Albanians.

The vice leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration, Petrit Vasili, would support an agreement with the Democratic Party to choose a president. The head of the United for Humans Right party, Vangjel Dule, said that: "The majority still showed that they cannot elect the President, even with simple majority. I appeal the opposition and Edi Rama, since we have an incapable majority, to not allow the opposition to avoid the political battle, but offer its alternative through Fatos Nano." The Party for Justice, Integration and Unity's Shpetim Idrizi also said that the Socialist Party should support Nano’s candidacy. Gazmend Oketa, one of the founders of the New Democratic Spirit, added to calls for a consensus candidate president. "Our country needs consensus, and our country seems on the brink of early elections." [17]

The final vote came despite calls from the Western world for a consensus candidate. On 11 June, 76 voted were cast. However, two MPs filed a white vote. Nishani was elected with 73 votes. He then shook hands with MPs but did not make a speech.

European Union's ambassador to Albania, Ettore Sequi, issued a statement that read: "The role of the president in anchoring Albania's state institutions in independence and in helping the country unite its efforts will be of crucial importance for Albania to successfully address the challenges it faces on its path towards the European Union." [18]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Rial, Nerea (2012-05-25). "Albania begins elections procedures". Neurope.eu. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  2. ↑ "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (pdf). wipo.int (in Albanian). p. Article 88.1.
  3. ↑ "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (pdf). wipo.int (in Albanian). p. Article 86.1.
  4. 1 2 Kandidaturat për president, Aleanca Demokristiane propozon Jozefina Topallin Archived 2012-06-02 at the Wayback Machine ., Gazeta Shqip, 2012-04-29 (in Albanian)
  5. ↑ "Smaller parties present their presidential nominees - oranews" (in Albanian). Oranews. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  6. ↑ ""Campaign", Dule supports Nano - Top Channel". Top-channel.tv. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  7. ↑ Xhezair Zaganjori, candidate for President, Top Channel, 2012-05-30
  8. ↑ PS, ja emrat që po propozojnë deputetët për President, Shqiptarja.com, 2012-06-02 (in Albanian)
  9. ↑ "Albanian parliament fails to elect new president | News , World". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  10. ↑ Koleka, Benet (2012-05-30). "Fractious Albanian parliament fails to elect president". Reuters. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  11. ↑ "Albania: no candidates running in election for presidency - Albania - ANSAMed.it". Ansamed.ansa.it. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  12. ↑ "Keep up with the Latest European News". mail.com. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  13. ↑ "Zaganjori withdraws candidacy for president - Top Channel". Top-channel.tv. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  14. ↑ http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2012/06/09/feature-01
  15. ↑ "Artan Hoxha, candidate for President. Rama: Dialogue failed - Top Channel". Top-channel.tv. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  16. ↑ "President, Hoxha withdraws candidacy - Top Channel". Top-channel.tv. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  17. ↑ "DP proposes Nishani. SMI and Nano react. Voting underway - Top Channel". Top-channel.tv. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  18. ↑ Koleka, Benet (2012-06-11). "Albania elects new president, opposition sidelined". Reuters. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
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