Bardhi: Albania Will Become European When Its Institutions Work to EU Standards

Democratic Party parliamentary group leader Gazment Bardhi has criticised the way the European integration process is unfolding, stressing that although Albania is at an advanced stage of negotiations, this process has not been accompanied by the democratic transformation of institutions.

He accused the government of denying the opposition’s constitutional right to oversee the executive, by refusing any request for interpellation or accountability from MPs.

Bardhi said the opposition has submitted six requests for investigative commissions, none of which have been accepted, despite Constitutional Court decisions ruling in its favour.

“Albania’s European integration is and must be a process of transforming the Albanian state. Unfortunately, although Albania is at an advanced stage of negotiations, this process has unfortunately not been accompanied by the democratic transformation of institutions in the country. For us as the opposition, parliament must be the institution that ensures laws are implemented, the government is overseen, and European reforms are inclusive and do not remain only on paper. The EP has noted concern over the weakening of parliamentary oversight of the executive. This is a concern we should have addressed immediately, but that has not happened even though the Constitution gives the minority the right to oversee the government — that right is denied.

In one year, the prime minister has not accepted a single request for interpellation or accountability from MPs in the Assembly. This has made it impossible for the opposition to play its role and hold the government responsible for negative phenomena affecting the public interest. During this legislature we have submitted 6 requests for investigative commissions. None has been accepted. Although we turned to the Constitutional Court and it ruled in our favour for the establishment of Investigative Commissions, its decisions are still not implemented by the parliamentary majority. This is not the first case. The most recent case was last week’s decision on the status of magistrates, where the parliamentary majority re-adopted a law that has been annulled by the Constitutional Court 3 times. Albania will not become European only by adopting laws with European names. Albania becomes European when institutions function according to European standards,” Bardhi said.