Skopje, 6 February 2024 (MIA) – Caretaker Prime Minister Talat Xhaferi told MIA that he isn’t the obstacle for the election of a new member of the State Election Commission (SEC), despite, he said, the attempts of the opposition parties of Albanians to portray it as such, and he urged them to discuss the issue with the parties that have a vote in Parliament since a two-third majority is required. Regarding the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and the Electoral Code, which is stuck in Parliament, Xhaferi said if it isn’t adopted ahead of the official calling of elections next week, the Government will review the draft from the Justice Ministry and, once it is adopted, forward it to Parliament.

“The opposition should make an effort to ensure the appropriate communication with the political parties that are making the decisions and have a vote in Parliament, since the election requires a two-third majority. They should stop arguing over the procedure and ensure the Speaker of Parliament has the prerequisites in order for the item to be placed on the agenda as soon as possible, so that the MPs can vote as soon as possible,” said Xhaferi regarding the election of an SEC member.

Xhaferi did not say why the parliamentary parties cannot agree over the Electoral Code, but he said he was asked about the Code at Monday’s meeting with the ambassadors of EU member states.

“The same question was posed by the ambassadors who were present at the joint meeting and my position is that I will wait until the next session of Government, next week, so before the elections are called, if there is no specific proposal over the draft, under the assumption that it has been sent as a draft to be distributed to the MPs in order to be allowed into procedure, then the Government will review the draft once again, sent it in Parliament under the appropriate procedure, and then it is up to Parliament to adopt the Electoral Code,” said Xhaferi.

Considering that there are at least 70 days between the days on which the elections are officially called and held, Xhaferi said he believes this is enough time to adopt the law and follow the provisions of the law.

“Formally and legally, there is enough time for the law to be adopted. So, we won’t leave it down to the fact that it is up to the MPs and say that the MPs are the ones that should act. If they fail to act, we will act and initiate it. That’s what we can do as a Government,” Xhaferi told MIA.