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Albania: Regions in which the Democratic Party of Albania (DPA) (Partia Demokratike e Shqiperise - PDSH) is in the majority or in control (July 2006)

For election purposes, Albania is divided into 100 zones, each representing approximately the same number of voters (Legislationline 6 May 2006). Each zone elects one member to the unicameral People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor), the seat of legislative power (ibid.; OSCE 7 Nov. 2005, 4; Europa 2006 2006, 485). The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania of 19 June 2003 specifies that the candidate who wins the largest number of votes in each zone is elected deputy of the People's Assembly (Art. 66). As the People's Assembly consists of 140 deputies, an additional 40 members are elected by proportional representation in accordance with the national distribution of votes among political parties (Albania 19 June 2003, Art. 67; OSCE 7 Nov. 2005, 4; Europa 2006 2006, 484).

The Democratic Party of Albania (Partia Demokratike e Shqiperise – PDSH), is a "centre-right, pro-democracy, pro-market" political party founded in 1990 and led by Sali Berisha (ibid., 485). In the 3 July 2005 general elections, 56 of the 100 electoral zones elected a deputy from the PDSH, allowing the party to win the elections (ibid.; Albania 2005a). The Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, and the Deputy Prime Minister as well as the majority of cabinet ministers are members of the PDSH (Europa 2006 2006, 485).

The Web site of the Albanian Central Election Commission (CEC) provides a map of the country's 100 electoral zones (Albania 2005c). According to the CEC, the PDSH won seats in the following 56 zones:

002 003 004 005 006 008 009 010

011 012 013 014 015 016 017 019

020 021 023 024 025 026 027 028

029 030 031 032 033 034 038 039

040 041 043 044 045 047 048 049

050 051 054 062 063 064 071 074

081 083 084 086 087 090 094 096

(ibid. 2005b).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Albania. 2005a. Central Election Commission (CEC). "2005 Parliamentary Election Results." <http://www.cec.org.al/2004/Zgjedhejekuvendfiles/Rez-zgjedhje2005/rezultatet%20vendore/linke/perberja%20e%20kuvendit_grafiku.pdf> [Accessed 24 July 2006]
_____. 2005b. Central Election Commission (CEC). "Election Results – National Level." <http://www.cec.org.al/2004/Zgjedhejekuvendfiles/Rez-zgjedhje2005/rezultatet%20vendore/linke/perberja%20emerore%20e%20kuvendit.pdf> [Accessed 24 July 2006]
_____. 2005c. Central Election Commission (CEC). "Parliamentary Elections 2005: Electoral Zones." <http://www.cec.org.al/2004/Zgjedhejekuvendfiles/harta2005/images/0.gif> [Accessed 21 July 2006]
_____. 19 June 2003. Law No. 9087 dated 19 June 2003: The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE – Unofficial translation) <http://www.osce.org/documents/pia/2005/04/14076_en.pdf> [Accessed 24 July 2006]

The Europa World Year Book 2006. 10 June 2006. "Albania." London: Routledge.

Legislationline. 6 May 2006. "Albania." <http://www.legislationline.org//?tid=1&jid=2&less=false> [Accessed 24 July 2006]

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). 7 November 2005. Republic of Albania, Parliamentary Elections 3 July 2005: OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Report. <http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/2005/11/16905_en.pdf> [Accessed 24 July 2006]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet Sites, including: Albanian Political Science Association (ALPSA), The Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES), European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), International Crisis Group (ICG), International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).