Politics of Albania
Albania • Politics portal |
The
The
Albania is a member state of the
The
]Executive
Since the Declaration of Independence in 1912, Albania has experienced different models of governance, including an international protectorate, a monarchy, a state-party regime and the parliamentary republic as well. Throughout all this period, the function of the head of state has been exercised in various forms.
Nowadays, the President of Albania (Presidenti) is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the military and the representative of the unity of the Albanian people.[13] The president is indirectly elected to a five-year term by the Parliament by secret vote, requiring a three-fifths majority of the votes of all members. The president has the power to guarantee observation of the Constitution and all laws, act as commander-in-chief of the Albanian Armed Forces, exercise the duties of the Parliament, when the Parliament is not in session, and appoint the Prime Minister. The president has the power to declare war, to grant pardon and to conclude agreements of peace, alliance, and participation in international organizations; upon the request of the government a simple parliamentary majority is required to ratify such actions, agreements, or treaties.
The
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
President | Bajram Begaj | Independent
|
24 July 2022 |
Prime Minister | Edi Rama | Socialist Party | 13 September 2013 |
Deputy Prime Minister | Belinda Balluku | Socialist Party | 28 August 2022 |
Legislative
The
The
Judiciary
Albania follows the civil law tradition, which is based on the French law system. It has a three-tiered, independent judicial system governed by the constitution and national legislation enacted by the Parliament. The judicial branch of Albania is divided into three main institutions; the 'Highest Courts', which includes the Supreme Court (Gjykata e Lartë) and the Constitutional Court (Gjykata Kushtetuese), the 'Intermediate Courts' such as the Courts of Appeal (Gjykata e Apelit), Court of Appeals against corruption and organized crime (Gjykata e Apelit kundër Korrupsionit dhe Krimit të Organizuar), and the Administrative Court of Appeals (Gjykata Administrative e Apelit) as well as the 'First Instance Courts' such as the District Courts (Gjykata e Juridksionit të Përgjithshëm) and the Court of First Instance against corruption and organized crime (Gjykata e Shkallës së Parë kundër Korrupsionit dhe Krimit të Organizuar).
The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in Albania; its hearings are open and judgments are made publicly, except in cases where the privacy of the accused is to be protected. It is composed of nineteen judges such as the president of the Supreme Court and eightteen members of the Supreme Court. The judges are selected and appointed amongst judges with more than 10 years of seniority or prominent lawyers, who have exercised their activity for more than 15 years. The members can serve for a single term of nine years, without the right of reappointment. The Constitutional Court is the final authority for the interpretation of the Constitution and the compliance of laws in accordance with the constitution.
Elections
Following the collapse of the communist regime in the nation, the
The president is elected through a
The county prefects and city and municipal mayors are elected to four-year terms by majority of votes cast within applicable local government units. A runoff election is held if no candidate achieves a majority in the first round of voting. Members of county, city, and municipal councils are also elected to four-year terms through proportional representation.
Parties
Albania has a
Name | Abbr. | Ideology | Leader | Seats | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Socialist Party of Albania Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë |
PS | Centre-left, Social democracy, Third Way, Progressive, Western, Modernism, Social liberalism | Edi Rama | 74 | |
Democratic Party – Alliance for Change | PD-AN | Centre-right, Liberal conservatism, Conservatism, Nationalism, Pro-Europeanism, Economic liberalism | Lulzim Basha | 59 | |
Socialist Movement for Integration
|
LSI | Centre-left, Social democracy, Progressivism | Monika Kryemadhi | 4 | |
Social Democratic Party | PSD | Centre-left |
Tom Doshi | 3 | |
Legality Movement Party Partia Lëvizja e Legalitetit |
PLL | Shpetim Axhami | 2 |
In the 2023 Albanian local elections the Democratic Party of Albania (PD) were not allowed to register their candidates, a court upheld that decision accordingly the Socialist Party of Albania (PS) won most seats.
Foreign policy
Foreign policy is conducted through the
Since the
Furthermore, the country became one of the first
Administrative divisions
With a total area of 28,748 square kilometres (11,100 square miles), Albania is divided into twelve administrative counties (Albanian: Qarqe). The counties are further subdivided into 61 municipalities (Bashkia). In addition, the counties were further subdivided in 36 districts (Rrethe), which became defunct in 2000.[31]
The counties were created on 31 July 2000 to replace the thirty-six former districts.[32] The government introduced a new administrative division to be implemented in 2015, whereby municipalities were reduced to 61, while rural ones called (Komuna) are abolished. The defunct municipalities are known as Neighborhoods or Villages (Lagje or Fshat).[33][34] There are overall 2980 villages or communities in the entire country, formerly known as localities (lokalitete). The municipalities are the first level of local governance, responsible for local needs and law enforcement.[35] As part of the reform, major town centers in the country were physically redesigned and façades painted to reflect a more Mediterranean look.[36][37]
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See also
- History of Albania
- Presidents of Albania
- Prime Ministers of Albania
- Shoqata Mbarëkombëtare e të Përndjekurve Politikë Shqiptare
References
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- ISBN 9780761363781. Archivedfrom the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
- osce.org. Archivedfrom the original on 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
The President of the Republic is elected by the Assembly by secret ballot and without debate by a majority of three-fifths of all its members.
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- ^ "State of democracy in Albania sees slight improvement". Euractiv. 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ^ "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). wipo.int (in Albanian). p. Article 86.1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "Article 134, Section 1(b)". Constitution of Albania. 22 November 1998. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA" (PDF). osce.org. p. Article 67. Archived from the original on 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
- ^ "IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Albania". www.electionguide.org. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- ^ "PART XII ALLOCATION OF SEATS". THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA (English translation by OSCE) (pdf). p. 140. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ Website of the Albanian Official Journal Archived 2010-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF) (in Albanian). p. Article 94. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ Albania: Elections held in 1991 Archived 2011-06-12 at the Wayback Machine Inter-Parliamentary Union
- ^ "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA" (PDF). osce.org. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
Article 1 - Governance is based on a system of elections that are free, equal, general and periodic. Article 45 - The vote is personal, equal, free and secret.
- ^ "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). wipo.int (in Albanian). p. Article 45. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ Corinne Deloy. "The Presidential Post in Albania". robert-schuman.eu. Archived from the original on 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
- ^ "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). wipo.int (in Albanian). p. Article 88.1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ Election Profile Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine IFES
- ^ Inter-Parliamentary Union. "IPU PARLINE database: ALBANIA (Kuvendi), Electoral system". ipu.org. Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
- ^ "Diplomatic Missions abroad". punetejashtme.gov.al. Archived from the original on 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
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- ^ Konferencë për shtyp e Ministrit të Punëve të Jashtme z. Panariti lidhur me vizitën e fundit në Greqi Archived 2017-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, 2012-10-06 (in Albanian)
- ^ "Albania country profile". BBC News. BBC. December 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
The [2013] election was closely monitored by the European Union, which has twice rejected Albania's membership application and warned that the poll would be a crucial test for its further progress towards integration in the bloc.
- ^ A Brief History of the Administrative-territorial Organization in Albania Archived 24 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "A Brief History of the Administrative-territorial Organization in Albania". reformaterritoriale.al. Archived from the original on 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
- ^ "Ndarja administrative, njësitë vendore në lagje dhe fshatra". Archived from the original on 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
- ^ "Ndarja e re, mbeten 28 bashki, shkrihen komunat – Shekulli Online". Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ "On the Organization and Functioning of the Local Government, Republic of Albania, 2000" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
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