The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, addressed Albanian MPs and citizens today with a message for the start of the second session of the 11th legislature, emphasizing the importance of a reform agenda that aims to strengthen the rule of law, the well-being of citizens, and advancement towards the European Union.
In his speech, President Begaj emphasized that commitment, cooperation and mutual respect are key elements to guarantee the success of reforms, adding that citizens expect less conflict and more solutions from their representatives.
He focused particularly on the justice reform, which according to him has created new institutions and guarantees the implementation of the law and the fight against corruption and organized crime. The President also stressed the need for progress in electoral reform, respecting the OSCE-ODIHR recommendations for high electoral standards and an inclusive consultation process.
Another priority, according to Begaj, remains administrative-territorial reform, which must be guided by the interest of citizens and ensure equal public services and infrastructure throughout the country. He also called for maximum efficiency in parliamentary control mechanisms, emphasizing that parliament must provide concrete results and accountability to citizens.
The President concluded the message with a call for responsibility and loyalty to the Constitution, ensuring that respecting these principles will give the Assembly the energy for a productive and successful parliamentary session, in the service of Albania and its European future.
THE MESSAGE OF THE CATTLE
Dear Members of Parliament,
Dear fellow citizens,
The Assembly convenes today in the second session of the 11th legislature and begins work on implementing a busy agenda, with reform initiatives.
This six-month period carries important challenges for the country and requires political will and high state-building awareness, so that every legal initiative directly serves the strengthening of the rule of law, the well-being of our citizens, and our greatest aspiration: membership in the European Union.
The approximation of legislation and the prioritization of the European Union agenda cannot be competitive. It requires real responsibility and commitment, it requires deep reforms and intensive work. The parliamentary process in this regard cannot guarantee success if attention is distracted, if parliamentary discourse loses its way, if cooperation stalls, if the debate loses focus from our national interest and if results are delayed. On the path towards the European family, we have no time to waste and no energy to waste.
Dear Members of Parliament,
Citizens expect from you less conflict and more solutions. They expect quality laws, oversight of governance and an honest political debate. In this balance of roles, everyone has their own responsibility. Democracy cannot function without balance and without mutual respect.
The justice reform began as a national need and emergency. It created new institutions and received massive citizen support for an independent, professional, functional justice system that guarantees the implementation of the law and the rule of law. This session faces the need for politics to confirm support for justice. Politics should feel proud when justice acts against corruption, organized crime, when justice shows independence, integrity, professionalism and when citizens receive justice according to European standards.
In this session, electoral reform should reach its peak. Commitments in the function of this reform require your maximum commitment. The recommendations of the OSCE-ODIHR mission have identified essential issues for the standard of elections in Albania, which cannot be left unaddressed. The electoral legal framework should undergo a comprehensive reform, in a comprehensive consultation process and in accordance with good practices and international standards within this parliamentary session. Delayed amendments to electoral legislation pose a risk to the standard of elections.
The territorial administrative reform also constitutes a milestone, the success of which is closely linked to the ability of the parties to engage in constructive dialogue and compromise. This reform must be guided by the highest interest of citizens, demographic movements, and the need for dignified and equal public services and infrastructure in each unit to make local self-government real and sustainable.
The efficient use of parliamentary control mechanisms should be of paramount importance. Citizens need to see the Assembly in action and the government accountable, but above all, they need this parliamentary procedure to be serious and responsible. Parliamentary control is meaningful when it produces results, when institutions are put into motion, when measures are taken, procedures are changed, laws are improved.
A parliament with the citizens and for the citizens must reflect their priority problems and demands.
Through political, ethical, constructive and collaborative communication, the challenges of demography, social security, cybersecurity, natural disaster security and national security deserve greater legal and institutional attention.
Dear Members of Parliament,
Your mandate is a contract of trust with the citizens. This trust, more than in words, is measured by actions and right decisions. The challenges of this parliamentary session are numerous, but loyalty to the Constitution, its principles and to the major objectives of Albania will give the Assembly the necessary strength and energy to carry forward a productive and successful parliamentary session.
I wish you good luck in serving Albania and our European future!
