Parliament of Albania Kuvendi i Shqipërisë | |
|---|---|
| 31st Legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | Four years |
| History | |
| Founded | 27 March 1920 |
| Preceded by | Assembly of Vlorë |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 140 (137) |
 | |
Political groups | Government (75)
Supported by (3) Opposition (62)
|
| Elections | |
| Open party-list proportional representation D'hondt method | |
Last election | 25 April 2021 |
Next election | 2025 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Parliament of Albania, Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, Tirana | |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Parliament of Albania (Albanian: Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to a four-year term on the basis of direct, universal, periodic and equal suffrage by secret ballot.[1][2][3] The Parliament is presided over by the Speaker, who is assisted by at least one deputy speaker. The electoral system is based on party-list proportional representation. There are 12 multi-seat constituencies, corresponding to the country's counties.
The Parliament's powers are defined by the Constitution of Albania. Among its responsibilities, it has the power to amend the borders of Albania or the Constitution, pass all laws, approve the cabinet, supervise the work of the government, declare war, decide on cessation of hostilities, adopt the state's budgets and approve the state's accounts. Other duties include calling referendums, performing elections and appointments conforming to the Constitution and applicable legislation, supervising operations of the government and other civil services responding to Parliament, granting amnesty for criminal offences and performing other duties defined by the Constitution. The Parliament also elects the President of the Republic. When the Parliament is elected, the first session shall be held no later than 20 days after the completion of elections with the President as the speaker.[4] However, all laws passed by the Parliament are published on Fletorja Zyrtare, which is the official journal of the Government of Albania.[5]
The oldest Assembly with extant records was held in Lezhë on 2 March 1444. The League of Lezhë (Kuvendi i Lezhës) forged in Lezhë under Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu as the leader against the Ottoman Empire.[6]
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- ^ "1998 Constitution of the Republic of Albania". osce.org. p. 12.
Article 64 - 1. The Assembly consists of 140 deputies. One hundred deputies are elected directly in single member electoral zones with an approximately equal number of voters. Forty deputies are elected from multi-name lists of parties or party coalitions according to their ranking
- ^ "1998 Constitution of the Republic of Albania". osce.org. p. 1.
Article 1 - 3.: Governance is based on a system of elections that are free, equal, general and periodic.
- ^ "1998 Constitution of the Republic of Albania". osce.org. p. 1.
Article 2 - 1 & 2.: Sovereignty in the Republic of Albania belongs to the people.; The people exercise sovereignty through their representatives or directly.
- ^ "1998 Constitution of the Republic of Albania". osce.org. p. Article 67.
- ^ "CRL Foreign Official Gazette Database – Albania". apps.crl.edu. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Kuvendi i Lezhës (1444)". letersia.fajtori.com (in Albanian).