31st Legislature of Albania

The 31st Legislature of Albania, also called the 31st Kuvendi or the X Pluralist Legislature, was the parliamentary legislature formed after Albania's 25 April 2021 general election. It represented the 140-seat Albanian Parliament and began its inaugural proceedings on 10 September 2021. The legislature was led by the Socialist Party of Albania (PS), which won 74 seats and therefore held an absolute majority. This result gave the PS a third consecutive governing mandate since the end of communist rule, an important milestone in Albania's post-1990 political development. The legislature's opening proceedings followed the constitutional and parliamentary procedures for validating mandates, administering the oath of office, and electing a Speaker. The inaugural session was chaired by Luljeta Bozo, the oldest elected member, who entered Parliament for the first time at the age of 78. A nine-member commission was established to verify parliamentary mandates, with five members from the governing majority and four from the opposition. The commission reviewed resignations announced by several elected candidates and confirmed replacement members according to the relevant constituency lists. The final parliamentary distribution reflected both election alliances and subsequent parliamentary affiliations. The Socialist Party held 74 seats. The Democratic Party and its electoral allies had won 59 seats collectively, although 50 deputies were assigned to the Democratic Party parliamentary grouping. Other represented forces included the Socialist Movement for Integration, the Social Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, the Agrarian Environmentalist Party, the Legality Movement Party, and the Union for Human Rights Party. The legislature also included independent members and deputies whose parliamentary status changed during the term. The Socialist Party nominated Lindita Nikolla as Speaker of Parliament. She was the only candidate presented for the office and was elected by secret ballot during the opening proceedings, becoming the 43rd Speaker of the Albanian Parliament. Opposition deputies from the Democratic Party protested the nomination and demonstratively tore their ballots during the vote, illustrating the confrontational political environment at the legislature's opening. The legislature also enabled the formation of the third government led by Prime Minister Edi Rama. Parliamentary consideration of the government's program began on 16 September 2021 and continued for more than 20 hours before concluding the following day. The cabinet received parliamentary approval on 17 September 2021 after having been decreed by President Ilir Meta. The proposed cabinet included 12 women and five men, producing a notably high proportion of women in ministerial posts. As a parliamentary body rather than a commercial organization, the 31st Legislature had no products, customers, commercial owner, stock listing, or conventional brand portfolio. Its significance lies in its constitutional role: representing Albanian voters, legislating, scrutinizing the executive, approving governments, and organizing parliamentary debate during the period created by the 2021 election. The supplied reference material identifies it as the legislature beginning in 2021 but does not establish a definitive closing date or provide a complete account of all later membership changes.

The 31st Kuvendi was formed through Albania's 2021 parliamentary election, held on 25 April 2021. It succeeded the previous parliamentary legislature and comprised the 140 elected seats of the Albanian Parliament. The Socialist Party of Albania won 74 seats, giving Prime Minister Edi Rama's party an outright majority and a third successive electoral mandate. The result was described in the reference material as the first time a party had won three consecutive terms in Albania since the fall of communism. The new legislature formally began on 10 September 2021. The opening session was chaired by Luljeta Bozo, the oldest member present. Bozo had been elected to Parliament for the first time at the age of 78. During the first sitting, deputies created a nine-member commission to verify their mandates. Its composition reflected the parliamentary balance, with five members from the majority and four from the opposition. The mandate-verification process addressed four vacancies created when elected candidates resigned after the election. In Tirana County, Mimi Kodheli replaced Najada Çomo; in Durrës County, Denis Deliu replaced Lefter Koka; in Fier County, Mirela Pitushi replaced former Speaker Gramoz Ruçi; and in Lezhë County, Elda Hoti replaced Mark Marku. The commission also clarified the allocation of seats among parliamentary parties because several forces had contested the election through alliances. The resulting configuration assigned 74 deputies to the Socialist Party. The Democratic Party's electoral coalition had won 59 seats, but 50 deputies were counted under the Democratic Party parliamentary grouping. The remaining representation included four deputies associated with the Socialist Movement for Integration, three with the Social Democratic Party, three with the Republican Party, two with the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, and one each with the Agrarian Environmentalist Party, the Legality Movement Party, and the Union for Human Rights Party. The reference material also notes independent deputies and members whose status changed after the election, including former Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha. The election of the Speaker followed the Parliament's rules. A candidate must be supported by at least 15 deputies, and election takes place by secret ballot with more than half of all members present. The Socialist Party was the only parliamentary force to submit a candidate and nominated Lindita Nikolla. She was elected during the second opening session, becoming the 43rd Speaker of the Albanian Parliament. The Democratic Party opposed her candidacy and its deputies protested by tearing their ballots during the vote. The legislature's early work also focused on forming the executive. On 16 September 2021, Prime Minister Edi Rama presented the program of his third government, followed by presentations from the proposed ministers. The debate continued for more than 20 hours and concluded the next day. On 17 September, the Parliament approved the new cabinet after it had received the president's decree. The cabinet consisted of 12 women and five men, making women three quarters of its ministerial membership according to the supplied reference material. The 31st Legislature should be understood as a constitutional institution and a defined parliamentary term, not as a consumer-facing brand. Its activities included validating mandates, electing parliamentary leadership, debating and approving the government program, and representing Albania's constituencies through its 140 members. The available material documents its formation and opening phase but does not supply a definitive termination date or a complete chronological record of subsequent proceedings.

• 2021

  2021 parliamentary election

  [1]31st Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  The 25 April election produced a 74-seat majority for the Socialist Party and established the parliamentary composition of the 31st Legislature.

• 2021

  Inaugural session

  [1]31st Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  The legislature began its first session on 10 September, chaired initially by the oldest deputy, Luljeta Bozo.

• 2021

  Election of Lindita Nikolla

  [1]31st Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  Lindita Nikolla was elected Speaker after the Socialist Party submitted the only candidacy.

• 2021

  Approval of the Rama III government

  [1]31st Kuvendien.wikipedia.org

  Parliament approved Prime Minister Edi Rama's third government on 17 September after debate on its program.

A national legislative institution and parliamentary term of the Republic of Albania, constituted through the 2021 general election.

• 2021

  Election of the Speaker of ParliamentOther

  Background

  The newly constituted Parliament needed to elect its presiding officer under the parliamentary rules.

  Action taken

  The Socialist Party nominated Lindita Nikolla, who was elected as the only candidate.

  Aftermath

  Nikolla became the 43rd Speaker of the Albanian Parliament. Democratic Party deputies protested during the vote.

  Source

• 2021

  Approval of the third Rama governmentOther

  Background

  Following the 2021 election, the parliamentary majority considered the program and proposed cabinet of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

  Action taken

  After extended debate beginning on 16 September, Parliament approved the government on 17 September.

  Aftermath

  The approved cabinet contained 12 women and five men, according to the supplied reference material.

  Source

1. 131st Kuvendien.wikipedia.org