Albania's parliament
Albania’s Pioneering LGBT Activist: ‘We Should Not Be Second-Class Citizens’
Last week, the Stockholm-based international human rights organization Civil Rights Defenders awarded her the prestigious prize of civil rights defender for her work to bring change to the community in her country, alongside Uganda's Frank Mugisha.
Albania Opposition Leader Renews Call for Vetting Politicians
After boycotting Albania's parliament for around two years, one of the first initiatives of the opposition when it returned in September, after losing the April 25 elections, was vetting politicians.
Opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha has called for the same vetting procedure to be applied to politicians as to justice officials.
EU Warns Albania Against Electing ‘Partisan’ Media Authority Chief
The European Union office in Tirana has voiced concern about the political impartiality of the new members and chief of Albania's main media regulatory body.
Albania Parliament’s Race to Fill Media Board Causes Alarm
Albania's parliament on Monday announced vacancies for four positions on the board of the country's Audio-visual Media Authority, AMA, without waiting for the new parliament elected in the April 25 elections to give its view, prompting concerns about the creation of a one-sided board supportive of Edi Rama's ruling Socialists.
Albanian Parliament Sets up Commission to Consider Ousting President
Albania's parliament on Friday voted to set up a commission to examine the possible ousting of the country's President, Ilir Meta.
It came after a.group of ruling Socialist deputies requested his dismissal, accusing him of interfering in the April 25 legislative elections in violation of the constitution.
War Crimes Prosecutors to Quiz Albanian Army Ex-Officer
Shehu is one of scores of Albanian army officers who joined the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA in its war against the Yugoslav Army and Serbian police and paramilitaries in 1999.
Albania’s Parliament to Probe Allegations of KLA Crimes
Albania's parliament voted on Thursday to set up an investigative committee to collect information on other investigations conducted by local and international bodies into alleged crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army in Albania in the war in Kosovo two decades ago.
The parliament will then present a resolution based on the findings.
Timeline: A Year of Democracy in Central and Southeast Europe
JANUARY
January 11 - Romania begins a six-month EU Council presidency amid anti-government protests at home and calls from EU leaders to respect the rule of law.
January 17 - Human Rights Watch's World Report 2019 highlights threats to journalists and minority and immigrants' rights as key problems in the Balkans.
Albania Opposition Supporters Clash with Police During Protest
Anti-government protesters broke through police cordons and attempted to storm Albania's parliament during a major opposition-led rally in Tirana on Saturday.
Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd, many of whom had come prepared with gas masks.
MEPs Chide Albania Opposition Parties for Quitting Parliament
Luigi Soreca, EU Delegation Ambassador in Tirana (front) and Knut Fleckenstein, rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament, after meeting opposition leaders in Tirana on 28 February 2019. Photo: Malton Dibra/LSA
Knut Fleckenstein, the German rapporteur for Albania, said quitting parliament was wrong.