30th Legislature of Albania

The 30th Legislature of Albania, known in Albanian as the 30th Kuvendi and officially described as the IX Pluralist Legislature, was the parliamentary term formed after Albania's general election of 25 June 2017. It was composed of 140 deputies elected through closed-list proportional representation in Albania's 12 administrative regions. The Socialist Party of Albania (PS), led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, won an outright majority with 74 seats. Its parliamentary position was supported by representation from the Social Democratic Party and the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, while the Democratic Party, the Socialist Movement for Integration, the Republican Party and several smaller allied parties formed or operated through opposition groups.

The 30th Legislature of Albania was constituted after the parliamentary election held on 25 June 2017. Albania's Parliament, the Kuvendi, has 140 seats elected for four-year terms. Deputies are chosen by closed-list proportional representation across 12 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the country's administrative regions. The legislature therefore represented the parliamentary outcome of the 2017 election rather than an independently incorporated organization or commercial undertaking. The Socialist Party of Albania obtained 74 seats and formed the governing majority under Prime Minister Edi Rama. The Democratic Party won 43 seats on an electoral list that also included candidates associated with several allied parties. The Socialist Movement for Integration won 19 seats. The Party for Justice, Integration and Unity obtained three seats, while the Social Democratic Party obtained one. After the Parliament was constituted, the Republican Party established a separate parliamentary group of seven deputies whose candidacies had been included on the broader opposition list. Several allied-party leaders and deputies remained outside the main parliamentary groups because they did not meet, or did not seek to meet, the minimum membership requirements. The legislature opened on 9 September 2017 with the oath of the newly elected deputies. Its first major institutional decision was the election of the Chairperson of Parliament. The Socialist Party nominated Gramoz Ruçi, a veteran deputy and former government official. The Democratic Party opposed his candidacy, citing his service in the communist-era state security structure and his tenure as Minister of Internal Affairs during the early pluralist period. Ruçi was elected by 80 votes to 40 in a sitting attended by 121 deputies; the 19 Socialist Movement for Integration deputies were absent. Parliamentary groups and the Bureau of Parliament formed the principal organizational framework of the legislature. Parliamentary groups required at least seven members, and deputies could belong to only one group. The Bureau handled internal administration, parliamentary organization, budgetary matters, committee composition and certain appointments. Its membership was intended to reflect the political balance of the chamber, including representation for the largest opposition party among the deputy chairpersons. The legislature was significantly affected by Albania's political crisis in 2019. Opposition parties announced the collective resignation of their deputies on 22 February, leaving more than 40 seats vacant. The Central Election Commission subsequently initiated procedures to fill vacancies with candidates from the lists submitted at the 2017 election. The resulting chamber contained a different political and personal composition from the one elected at the beginning of the term, including many replacement deputies with limited previous parliamentary experience. The 30th Legislature operated until the formation of the next legislature after the 2021 parliamentary election. Its principal historical features were the Socialist Party's initial absolute majority, the contested election of Gramoz Ruçi as Speaker, the institutional role of several party and alliance-based parliamentary groups, and the major opposition withdrawal that altered the chamber's composition during the term.

• 2021

  End of the parliamentary term

  [1]30th Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  The legislature was succeeded by the parliament formed after Albania's 2021 parliamentary election.

• 2019

  Opposition resignations and replacement of deputies

  [1]30th Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  More than 40 opposition-held seats became vacant after collective resignations during the political crisis, prompting Central Election Commission replacement procedures.

• 2017

  2017 general election

  [1]30th Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  The 25 June election produced the 140-member chamber and gave the Socialist Party 74 seats, an absolute majority.

• 2017

  Opening of the legislature

  [1]30th Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  The new deputies took their oaths on 9 September, marking the inauguration of the legislature.

• 2017

  Election of Gramoz Ruçi as Chairperson

  [1]30th Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  Gramoz Ruçi was elected Chairperson of Parliament by 80 votes to 40 in the inaugural parliamentary proceedings.

A national legislative institution rather than a commercial brand. Its role was to debate and adopt legislation, approve public policy and the state budget, oversee the executive, organize parliamentary committees and represent Albania's electorate.

• 2019

  Replacement of deputies after opposition resignationsStrategy

  Background

  Opposition parties withdrew their parliamentary deputies during Albania's political crisis, leaving more than 40 seats vacant.

  Action taken

  The Central Election Commission began filling vacancies with candidates from the electoral lists used in the 2017 election.

  Aftermath

  The chamber's membership and political balance changed substantially, and many replacement deputies entered Parliament with limited prior parliamentary experience.

  Source

• 2017

  Election of the Chairperson of ParliamentOther

  Background

  The inaugural sitting required the chamber to elect its presiding officer under the Parliament's rules. The Socialist Party was the only party to nominate a candidate.

  Action taken

  Gramoz Ruçi was elected by secret ballot with 80 votes in favor and 40 against, in a sitting attended by 121 deputies.

  Aftermath

  Ruçi presided over the legislature, while the opposition continued to contest his suitability because of his communist-era government and security-service associations.

  Source

1. 130th Kuvendien.wikipedia.org