SP does not 'release' Olta Xhaçka/ The mandate is not sent to the Constitutional Court

2024-09-13 08:40:00, Politikë CNA

SP does not 'release' Olta Xhaçka/ The mandate is not sent to

Olta Xha?ka

For the third time, SP deputies did not implement the decision of the Constitutional Court to send the mandate of the socialist Olta Xhaçka for verification.

After a marathon session in the Assembly, 65 socialist legislators abstained, 9 voted against and 25 opposition MPs voted for.

The 9 deputies who voted against were Jurgis Çyrbja, Bledi Çuçi, Damian Gjiknuri, Anduel Tahiraj, Paulin Stërkaj, Petro Koçi, Klodiana Spahiu, Shkëlqim Bullari and Bujar Çela. Even Prime Minister Rama, who had left the hall, did not participate in the vote.

As soon as the voting ended, the opposition crashed the tables while calling the decision of the Socialists not to implement the order of the Constitutional Court a shame.

At the end of the session, the Speaker of the Assembly, Elisa Spiropali announced that she will turn to the Venice Commission for an opinion.

The opposition and the majority came out with two separate reports. In the report of the Democratic Party, the Assembly was asked to implement the decision of the Constitutional Court. Among other things, the Speaker of the Assembly was requested to inform the deputies of the Assembly of Albania with the obligation to vote "PRO" and to decide on sending the mandate of Olta Xhaçka to the Constitutional Court without delay.

On the other hand, the majority in its report seemed to have taken a step back from its firm position not to take it to the Constitutional Court. In the report, the SP argued that the decisions of the Constitutional Court are mandatory for implementation, even though the report underlined that it will be the deputies of the Assembly of Albania who will decide by themselves.

The mandate of Olta Xhaçka must be reviewed without delay in the Constitutional Court and the deputies are obliged to send it as soon as possible, the Constitutional Court said in the decision made on July 10, 2024 where it annulled the decision of the parliament which refused to send to this court the motion of opposition for the incompatibility of the mandate of MP Olta Xhaçka.

In April, the socialists interpreted their vote with the fact that despite the fact that the decisions of the Constitutional Court are mandatory for implementation, the deputies, according to the constitution, are free in their decision-making. But with the decision of July 10, it became clear to the Assembly that it can never question the binding power of its decisions.

The "Xhaçka" case has started since June 2022, when the opposition demanded the removal of her mandate with the argument that the socialist deputy is in a conflict of interest due to the title of strategic investor that her husband enjoys by government decision.