# 30th Kuvendi

The Thirtieth Legislature of Albania (Albanian: Legjislatura e tridhjetë e Shqipërisë), officially known as the IX Pluralist Legislature of Albania (Albanian: Legjislatura e IX Pluraliste e Shqipërisë), is the legislature of Albania following the 2017 general election of Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Albanian Parliament. The party of the Prime Minister Edi Rama, PS, obtained an absolute majority of 74 deputies, alongside its ally, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which secured 1 seat and Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PDIU) 3 seats.

## Composition of the Parliament
### Election of chairperson
#### Procedure for election of the Chairperson of the Parliament

The procedure for the election of the Chairperson is foreseen by the Article 6 of Parliament's Rules which states that:
* A candidate for Chairperson of the Parliament shall be nominated by at least 15 deputies. An MP can not support more than one candidate. The proposal should be made with writing, contains the relevant signatures and is submitted to the Provisional Secretariat of Parliament.
* The Chairperson of the Parliament shall be elected without debate and by secret ballot, by majority vote, in the presence of more than half of all members of the Parliament. If none of the candidates has won the required majority, it is followed by a second round, where they vote for the two candidates that have received the most votes.
* Voting is publicly organized and chaired by a 5-member Voting Committee that reflects, as far as possible, the political composition of the Parliament. The oldest member by age also exercises the function of the Chairperson the Voting Committee and announce the voting results.
* The Speaker of the session immediately invites the elected Chairperson of the Parliament to take his place.

#### Critics and pre-election process

On September 9, 2017, which was the inauguration day of the IX Legislature of the Albanian Parliament, began the morning with the oath of the 140 new deputies elected in the general elections of June 25, 2017.
On the afternoon of the same day, a second session was called for the election of the new Chairperson of the Parliament of Albania.
Only the Socialist Party, which was the winner of the elections, made a proposal for the post of the Chairman of parliament. The PS proposed Mr. Gramoz Ruçi, who is one of the long-standing MPs in the pluralist Albanian parliamentary history. His candidacy received prior consensus from PDIU and the PSD parties.
While the biggest opposition party PD opposed Ruçi's as candidature as chairman with the claim that he was a Sigurimi employee and Minister of Internal Affairs at the end of the communist dictatorship.
The Democratic Party along with ex-politically persecuted people who protested outside the parliament the election of Mr. Ruçi's as Chairman of the Parliament, by linking him with the murder of 4 protesters killed by the police in Shkodër on 2 April 1991, time Mr. Ruçi was Minister of Internal Affairs.

#### Voting Session

The voting session in parliament was chaired by the oldest parliamentary deputy of parliament, who was Mr. Besnik Bare. There were 121 deputies in the session, since the 19 deputies of the Socialist Movement for Integration were absent, due to the objections they had with the proposal by the Socialist Party. Mr. Ruci was elected Chairman of the Parliament with 80 votes in favor and 40 votes against.
Voting for Chairperson of the Parliament :
| Pro | Against | Abstentions |
| 80 votes | 40 votes | 0 vote |
| Total of 121 votes, of which 1 invalid vote. |||

### Parliamentary groups

Deputies can form parliamentary groups according to party affiliation or political orientation. Within 3 days from the date of election of the Chairperson of the Parliament, each MP declares, in writing, membership in a parliamentary group. Deputies elected during the legislature make the declaration within 3 days of the oath. A minimum of 7 MPs is required for the creation of a parliamentary group. Every MP may only be a member of a parliamentary group. A member leaving the parliamentary group may join another parliamentary group only after six months from the date of leaving from the actual parliamentary group. Each parliamentary group, at its first meeting, chooses its leadership.
* Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party
The parliamentary group of the Socialist Party of Albania is chaired by Mr. Taulant Balla, who replaces in this position Mr. Gramoz Ruci, who was the leader of this parliamentary group in the previous legislature of the Parliament. The Socialist Party's parliamentary group consists with a total of 74 deputies, emerged from the June 2017 elections; thus obtaining the absolute majority in the Parliament of Albania.
* Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party
The parliamentary group of the Democratic Party of Albania consists of 33 deputies, emerged from the June 2017 elections. It is the second largest group in the Albanian Parliament and is chaired by Mr. Edmond Spaho who replaces the former leader of the group for previous legislature, Mr. Edi Paloka. Despite the fact that the Democratic Party won 43 deputies in the general elections of June 2017, they are not included DP parliamentary group because some of them are leaders of the ally parties (such as PR; PDK; PBDNJ etc.) of the DP; based on a political agreement made between the allied parties before the elections, they decide to be represented in a single list to increase the chances of winning in some constituencies.
* Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Movement for Integration
The parliamentary group of the Socialist Movement for Integration consists of 19 deputies elected in the June 2017 general elections, in which LSI was represented solely by challenging the two traditional parties, such as the Democratic Party; and its former ally in the previous legislature, the Socialist Party. The group is chaired by Mr. Petrit Vasili, who is also the deputy chairman of LSI.
* Parliamentary Group of the Republican Party
The Republican Party was not represented in the June 2017 elections under its own name, but some of its candidacies were included in the PD list on the basis of a pre-election political agreement between the allied parties in the opposition, which was then submitted to the Central Election Commission. However, after the constitution of the parliament, the Republican Party created its own parliamentary group consisting of 7 deputies. The group is chaired by Mr. Fatmir Mediu, who is also the chairman of the party.
* MPs not included in Parliamentary Groups
There are 7 deputies who are not involved in any of the parliamentary groups formed after the parliament constitution. Three of them belong to the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, which failed to obtain the quorum needed (7 MPs) to form its own group. One MP belong to Social Democratic Party, Mr. Tom Doshi.
There are also three leaders of allied parties of the Democratic Party who were elected from its list in the June 2017 elections, but who decided not included themselves in the DP Parliamentary Group. They are: Dashamir Shehi chairman of the Movement for National Development (LZHK); Nard Ndoka chairman of the Demochristian Party (PDK); Vangjel Dule chairman of the Unity for Human Rights Party (PBDNJ).

### Bureau of the Parliament

The Parliament Bureau pursues and decides the administrative issues and the interior functioning of the Parliament and of its bodies. The Bureau of Parliament is composed by the Chairperson of the Parliament, the Deputy Chairpersons, two secretaries on the budget and four secretaries. The bureau its led by the Chairperson. The composition of the Bureau of Parliament must reflect, as much as possible, the political composition of the Parliament. It cannot be elected more than one secretary on budget or secretary from the same parliamentary group. One Deputy Chairperson must belong to the biggest opposition party.
The Chairperson of Parliament consults with the leaders of the parliamentary groups about the composition of the Bureau. The composition of the Parliament Bureau is agreed upon with consensus in the meeting of the Chairperson with the parliamentary groups' leaders. The Chairperson proposes to vote it at the plenary sitting, which takes the decision with open voting.
The Bureau decides on the budget of the Parliament based on the proposals of the secretaries on the budget; decides on the complaints in the cases of the constitution of the parliamentary groups and the complaints of the parliamentary groups on the composition of the standing committees of the Parliament.
The Bureau of Parliament, with the proposal of the Secretary General, approves the Internal Regulation on Organization and Functioning of Parliament Services. The Bureau of Parliament issues the orders and regulations regarding:
* the organization of the services in the Parliament and the assigned tasks to all its sections in compliance with the functioning of the Parliament.
* the legal status, the economic treatment and conditions of services to all the Parliament's employees.
The Bureau examines and decides about the disciplinary measures proposed by the Chairperson of the Parliament according to the Article 65/2 of the Parliament Rule. The Bureau of Parliament, with the proposal of the Chairperson of Parliament, appoints the Secretary General of Parliament on the basis of three candidatures from the competition procedures according to the law on civil service. It can approves the annual report of the Parliament's activity prepared by the Secretary General and decides on its publication.

## Composition of the Parliament

The Constitution of Albania mandates that the Parliament consists of not less than 140 members, elected by a direct elected secret ballot for four-year terms. The electoral system is closed list proportional representation. There are 12 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the 12 administrative regions of the country. Parliamentary elections are held within 60 days to 30 days before the end of the mandate and not later than 45 days after dissolution.
As specified by the current electoral legislation in Albania, 140 members of the Parliament are elected in multi-seat constituencies. Within any constituency, parties must meet a threshold of 3 percent of votes, and pre-election coalitions must meet a threshold of 5 percent of votes.

### 31st Parliament

The two largest political parties in Albania are the Socialist Party (PS) and the Democratic Party (PD). The last elections were held on 25 June 2017. Following is a list of political parties with representation in the Parliament by the 2017 Albanian parliamentary election:
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Ideology | MPs |
| Socialist Party of Albania Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë | PS | 15 August 1991 | Edi Rama | Social democracy, Third Way, Progressive, Centre-left, Western, Modernism, Social liberalism | 74 / 140 |
| Democratic Party of Albania Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë | PD | 19 December 1990 | Lulzim Basha | Liberal conservatism, Conservatism, Nationalism, Pro-Europeanism, Centre-right, Economic liberalism | 43 / 140 |
| Socialist Movement for Integration Lëvizja Socialiste për Intigrim | LSI | 23 September 2004 | Monika Kryemadhi | Social democracy, Progressivism, Centre-left | 19 / 140 |
| Party for Justice, Integration and Unity Partia për Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet | PDIU | 1 March 2011 | Shpëtim Idrizi | Nationalism, Right-wing, Ethnic nationalism, Cham issue | 3 / 140 |
| Social Democratic Party of Albania Partia Socialdemokrate e Shqipërisë | PSD | 23 April 1991 | Ëngjëll Bejtaj | Social democracy, Centre-left | 1 / 140 |

### Post-February 2019 parliamentary composition

During the political crisis, opposition parties announced that all their MP's in the Parliament would resign from the parliament on 22 February, more than 40 seats were vacated and the Central Elections Commission started in the following days the procedures to replace the MP's with mostly unknown and inexperienced figures that were part of the candidate lists during the 2017 election.
After weeks of filling the vacancies, in the end the parliament had this composition.
| Name | Abbr. | Founded | Leader | Ideology | MPs |
| Socialist Party of Albania Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë | PS | 15 August 1991 | Edi Rama | Social democracy, Third Way, Progressive, Centre-left, Western, Modernism, Social liberalism | 74 / 140 |
| Party for Justice, Integration and Unity Partia për Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet | PDIU | 1 March 2011 | Shpëtim Idrizi | Nationalism, Right-wing, Ethnic nationalism, Cham issue | 3 / 140 |
| Social Democratic Party of Albania Partia Socialdemokrate e Shqipërisë | PSD | 23 April 1991 | Ëngjëll Bejtaj | Social democracy, Centre-left | 1 / 140 |
| Democratic Group Grupi Demokrat | | | | | 8 / 140 |
| Right-wing group Grupi partitë e djathta | | | | | 7 / 140 |
| Independent Të Pavarur | | | | | 9 / 140 |
| Vacant Seats | | | | | 18 / 140 |

## List of MPs elected in the general election

The following is a list of 140 members elected to the parliament in the 2017 general election. It consists of the representative's name, party, and they are divided according to the 12 constituencies of Albania to which they belong, in addition to noting members assigned to government, resigned or deceased, with their parliamentary functions, chair and deputy chairs of standing committees and parliamentary leaders of the parties.
Thirteen representatives are members of Rama II Cabinet and a fourteenth its elected as Chairperson of the Parliament. MP's can exercise the function of the minister and at the same time hold the post of deputy.
| County | Full name | Party | Notes |
| Berat County | Adnor Shameti | PS | |
| Berat County | Blendi Klosi | PS | Minister of Tourism and Environment in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Berat County | Eduard Halimi | PD | Deputy Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights |
| Berat County | Ermonela Velikaj (Felaj) | PS | Chair of the Committee on National Security |
| Berat County | Fadil Nasufi | PS | |
| Berat County | Gledjon Rehovica | LSI | |
| Berat County | Nasip Naço | LSI | |
| Dibër County | Almira Xhembulla | PS | |
| Dibër County | Dhurata Çupi | PD | |
| Dibër County | Ilir Beqaj | PS | |
| Dibër County | Përparim Spahiu | LSI | |
| Dibër County | Reme Lala | PDIU | |
| Dibër County | Xhemal Gjunkshi | PD | |
| Durrës County | Edi Paloka | PD | |
| Durrës County | Eglantina Gjermeni | PS | |
| Durrës County | Fatbardha Kadiu | PD | |
| Durrës County | Fidel Ylli | PS | |
| Durrës County | Florjon Mima | PD | Deputy Chair of the Committee on Production Activities, Trade and Environment |
| Durrës County | Ilir Ndraxhi | PS | |
| Durrës County | Jurgis Çyrbja | PS | |
| Durrës County | Klodiana Spahiu | PS | |
| Durrës County | Lefter Koka | LSI | |
| Durrës County | Milva Ekonomi | PS | Deputy Chair of the Committee on Education and Public Information |
| Durrës County | Nora Malaj | LSI | |
| Durrës County | Oerd Bylykbashi | PD | |
| Durrës County | Rolant Xhelilaj | PS | |
| Durrës County | Rrahman Rraja | PS | |
| Elbasan County | Anastas Angjeli | PS | |
| Elbasan County | Aqif Rakipi | PDIU | |
| Elbasan County | Vacancy | PDIU | After the resignation of MP Bujar Muça |
| Elbasan County | Arben Kamami | PS | |
| Elbasan County | Edmond Haxhinasto | LSI | |
| Elbasan County | Edmond Spaho | PD | Leader of the Parliamentary Group of Democratic Party |
| Elbasan County | Endri Hasa | PD | |
| Elbasan County | Elvis Kushi | PS | |
| Elbasan County | Luan Duzha | PS | |
| Elbasan County | Luçiano Boçi | PD | |
| Elbasan County | Monika Kryemadhi | LSI | |
| Elbasan County | Musa Ulqini | PS | |
| Elbasan County | Nuri Belba | PS | |
| Elbasan County | Taulant Balla | PS | Leader of the Parliamentary Group of Socialist Party |
| Fier County | Adelina Rista | PS | |
| Fier County | Anduel Xhindi | PS | |
| Fier County | Antoneta Dhima | PS | |
| Fier County | Bashkim Fino | PS | |
| Fier County | Bujar Çela | PS | |
| Fier County | Enkelejd Alibeaj | PD | |
| Fier County | Erion Braçe | PS | Chair of the Committee on Economy and Finance |
| Fier County | Genc Pollo | PD | |
| Fier County | Gramoz Ruçi | PS | Chairperson of the Parliament of Albania |
| Fier County | Ismet Beqiraj | PS | |
| Fier County | Luan Baci | PD | |
| Fier County | Myslim Murrizi | PD | |
| Fier County | Petrit Vasili | LSI | Chair of the Committee on Labour, Social Affairs and Health Leader of the Parliamentary Group of Socialist Movement for Integration |
| Fier County | Robert Bitri | LSI | |
| Fier County | Tatjana Piro (Nurçe) | PS | |
| Fier County | Xhevit Bushaj | PS | |
| Gjirokastër County | Bledar Çuçi | PS | Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Integration |
| Gjirokastër County | Flamur Golemi | PS | |
| Gjirokastër County | Mirela Kumbaro (Furxhi) | PS | Ministry of Culture in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Gjirokastër County | Tritan Shehu | PD | |
| Gjirokastër County | Vangjel Tavo | LSI | |
| Korçë County | Edlira Bode | PS | |
| Korçë County | Edmond Panariti | LSI | |
| Korçë County | Eduard Shalsi | PS | Chair of the Committee on Production Activities, Trade and Environment |
| Korçë County | Elisa Spiropali | PS | Deputy Chair of the Committee on Labour, Social Affairs and Health |
| Korçë County | Ervin Salianji | PD | |
| Korçë County | Hekuran Hoxhalli | PD | |
| Korçë County | Ilir Xhakolli | PS | |
| Korçë County | Ilirian Pandavinji | PS | |
| Korçë County | Klevis Balliu | PD | |
| Korçë County | Niko Peleshi | PS | Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Korçë County | Valentina Duka | PD | |
| Kukës County | Flamur Noka | PD | Deputy Chair of the Committee on National Security |
| Kukës County | Isuf Çelaj | PD | |
| Kukës County | Mimi Kodheli | PS | Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy |
| Lezhë County | Aldo Bumçi | PD | |
| Lezhë County | Andon Frrokaj | PD | |
| Lezhë County | Gjetan Gjetani | PS | |
| Lezhë County | Lindita Nikolla | PS | Minister of Education, Sports and Youth in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Lezhë County | Lindita Metaliaj | PD | |
| Lezhë County | Pjerin Ndreu | PS | |
| Lezhë County | Viktor Tushaj | LSI | |
| Shkodër County | Agron Çela | LSI | |
| Shkodër County | Bardh Spahia | PD | |
| Shkodër County | Ditmir Bushati | PS | Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Shkodër County | Izmira Ulqinaku | PD | |
| Shkodër County | Lorenc Luka | PD | |
| Shkodër County | Luan Harusha | PS | |
| Shkodër County | Nard Ndoka | PD | |
| Shkodër County | Paulin Sterkaj | PS | |
| Shkodër County | Romeo Gurakuqi | PD | |
| Shkodër County | Senida Mesi | PS | Deputy Prime Minister in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Shkodër County | Tom Doshi | PSD | |
| Tiranë County | Albana Vokshi | PD | Chair of the Committee on Education and Public Information |
| Tiranë County | Arben Ahmetaj | PS | Minister of Finance and Economy in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Tiranë County | Arben Pëllumbi | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Besnik Baraj | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Blerina Gjylameti | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Dashamir Shehi | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Elona Hoxha | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Endrit Brahimllari | LSI | |
| Tiranë County | Ervin Bushati | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Fatmir Mediu | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Fatmir Xhafaj | PS | Ministry of Internal Affairs in Rama's II Cabinet. |
| Tiranë County | Flojda Kërpaçi | LSI | |
| Tiranë County | Gent Strazimiri | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Grida Shqima | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Halim Kosova | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Jorida Tabaku | PD | Deputy Chair of the Committee on Economy and Finance |
| Tiranë County | Klajda Gjosha | LSI | Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy |
| Tiranë County | Klotilda Bushka | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Luan Rama | LSI | |
| Tiranë County | Lulzim Basha | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Ogerta Manastirliu | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Olta Xhaçka | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Orjola Pampuri | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Pandeli Majko | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Rakip Suli | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Rudina Hajdari | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Sadi Vorpsi | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Sadri Abazi | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Sajmir Tahiri | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Sali Berisha | PD | |
| Tiranë County | Ulsi Manja | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Vasilika Hysi | PS | |
| Tiranë County | Xhemal Qefalia | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Vullnet Sinaj | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Agron Shehaj | PD | |
| Vlorë County | Alket Hyseni | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Andrea Marto | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Damian Gjiknuri | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Edi Rama | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Edmond Leka | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Fatmir Velaj | PS | |
| Vlorë County | Nadire Meçorapaj | PD | |
| Vlorë County | Sezai Rokaj | LSI | |
| Vlorë County | Vangjel Dule | PD | |
| Vlorë County | Vilma Bello | PS | |