Proceedings of The International Social Sciences Conference
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
On Political Expectations from Election System in Albania
Dr. Teuta Starova, and Dr. Blendi Ceka
ABSTRACT:
Albania’s political landscape has consistently featured recurring debates on its electoral system, particularly during the intervals between parliamentary elections. These discussions often arise from concerns that the current system fails to reflect the true political preferences of the population. The push for electoral reform usually comes from opposition parties, especially smaller or newly established ones. Over the past two decades, this focus on the electoral system has remained constant. A significant issue lies in the broader political context: the inability to foster substantive dialogue or create governance alternatives based on policy. This has led many political actors to mistakenly believe that Albania’s democratic challenges can be solved through electoral reforms alone. However, this approach is problematic, as it diverts political energy and resources while often leading to outcomes more troubling than the initial concerns. By equating improvements in democracy solely with changes to the electoral system, Albania finds itself trapped in a cycle of unproductive political debate and unmet expectations. Without addressing the underlying issues of governance, the focus on reforming the electoral system only perpetuates a repetitive and ultimately unsatisfying process.
keywords: disproporcionality indication, election coalitions, election system, number of significant parties, parliamentary representation