Attack on News24 was at the center of the debate in the Laws Committee, where the socialists' legal initiative for audiovisual media was presented. Freedom Party MP Tedi Blushi raised concerns about media freedom in Albania, citing what happened to the country's largest news television station in August last year as an example, as he criticized the lack of cooperation with media associations on this legal change. "The reason for the vote against is that I am informed that media associations have not been informed about this draft law. In the conditions when media freedom in our country - the year we just closed - has been reflected in international reports by the European Union, DASH and Reporters Without Borders, as a country where freedom of speech has been violated in the region. We have the case of the media group Focus Media News, images that shame Albania. Without forgetting the fact that today talking about media freedom in a country where more than two-thirds of the media are controlled by the government is ironic. These are the reasons why I voted against", said Blushi.
MP Iris Luarasi said that media associations will be in a consultation session on Friday on the audiovisual media law. The chairman of the Laws Committee, Ulsi Manja, also stressed the need for the voices of the media and civil society to be heard on this draft law. "All associations have been invited on Friday and the consultation part will take place that day. Based on the concerns that were raised, the draft law aims to address them. One of the issues that has been in the EU reports is related to the transparency and ownership of the media in Albania, and this is the part that we are trying to regulate. The consultation process takes place on Friday," Luarasi said.
"Our commission is an opinion-giving commission. It is important that you also listen to the voice of the media and civil society, if you want," said Manja.
Tedi Blushi was the only MP who voted against the draft law on audiovisual media. Part of the discussions in the Laws Committee were also two of the key laws of the justice reform. Regarding the draft law on the status of judges, the MP of the Freedom Party, Tedi Blushi, while voting against, described it as unconstitutional and as a continuation of the coup d'état against the justice reform.
"It is a mafia-style, deeply unconstitutional bill that aims for nothing other than the installation of 'Ramaforma' as a strategy for the complete annihilation of the rule of law. This bill is a continuation of the coup d'état against justice and justice reform. Therefore, on behalf of the Freedom Party and its parliamentary group, I support the right, principled and fully constitutional position of the National Association of Judges, which is positioned against this mafia-style bill, as long as it aims to extend Edi Rama's absolute power to that part of the judiciary that he does not currently control. The association has rightly raised concerns that this bill not only violates the Constitution and violates the principle of separation of powers, but specifically takes away the exclusive powers of the Supreme Court of Justice regarding the appointment of court presidents. Therefore, being against a bill that violates the Constitution is completely right," he said.
While the chairman of the Laws Committee, Ulsi Manja, said that the concerns of the Judges' Association are reflected in the draft law. "If you had read Article 13 of the draft law, the concerns of the Judges' Association have also been resolved there, but you are confusing the associations, because there are two. We have made a solution that gives the judicial system breathing space in terms of electing court presidents, legitimately according to the law. You call yourself whatever you want, but we have a clear compass towards EU integration. Our cooperation is with the European Commission and the European Union. Join this train, because it will be too late. When we enter the EU, don't say that you gave up on integration, because you have only pulled integration out of your jacket", he asserted.
