Parliament of professors, education and knowledge and no longer the parliament of the “tough ones”, as they were often labeled in the last parliamentary session. This will be the new parliament of Albania in the next four years, 2017-2021, referring to the list of its MPs, who, although they have not yet been officially certified by the Central Election Commission, after the process of ballot counting, they seem to have cemented their mandates. Part of this parliament are a large number of figures from the Albanian academic world. Starting with the Socialist Party, where we can mention such as Elona Gjebrea, Vasilika Hysi, Evis Kushi, Mirela Kumbaro or Lindita Nikolla, who are known as professors. But even the Democratic Party has many such figures in the list of its new MPs, such as Orjola Pampuri, Jorida Tabaku, Fatbardha Kadiu, Grida Duma, Tritan Shehu, Valentina Duka, Luçiano Boçi, Dhurata Çupi and Romeo Gurakuqi. A significant number of MPs of the Socialist Movement for Integration too will move from lecture halls to plenary sessions. People like Edmond Panariti or Nora Malaj. In this aspect, we can easily say that the new Parliament will have a considerable number of intellectuals. This will also help to eradicate the impression that was recently created that “tough” people had entered parliament or even people who were accused of different criminal offenses.
On the other hand, it can be said that the next Parliament will also have business people, a category which has also been present in previous parliaments. So, this time, the list of new MPs will include figures belonging to the business world such as Rakip Suli, Qemal Qefalia, Sadri Abazi, Fidel Ylli, Anastas Angjeli, Vullnet Sinaj or Paulin Sterkaj of the Socialist Party. Or even Agron Shehaj of the Democratic Party and Lefter Koka of the Socialist Movement for Integration.
But, we must also mention names who will no longer be part of this parliament such as Ben Blushi, the party of whom, LIBRA, although obtaining around 20 thousand votes nationwide, could not obtain any seats in Parliament. In the next parliamentary sessions, we will not even hear discussions by Arben Ristani, Dashamir Tahiri or Gert Bogdani of the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, two other prominent names will be missing from this parliament: the head of the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, Shpetim Idrizi and Mesila Doda, but also Sokol Dervishaj of the Socialist Movement for Integration.
GENDER EQUALITY
37 women MPs in total. 22 from the SP, 10 from the DP, 5 from SMI and 1 from PJIU
The new Parliament of Albania will have 37 women MPs in the new legislative session from 2017 until 2021. The highest number of these women MPs will belong to the Socialist Party, namely 22. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party ranks second with 10 women MPs, to continue with the Socialist Movement for Integration with 5 women MPs and PJIU with only one woman MP. If we refer to the respective list, we can notice that part of this category are prominent political names, but also new women figures who have just entered politics. So, the list of 22 socialist women MPs includes names such as Mimi Kodheli or Milva Ekonomi, who have a long political experience and who have also served as ministers, accompanied by new figures such as Edlira Bode, Senida Mesi, etc. Meanwhile, among the 10 women MPs from the Democratic Party we can mention women with political experience such as Albana Vokshi or Jorida Tabaku, but also other figures, who, although they have not been part of politics, they are public names and one such example is Valentina Duka. As far as SMI list is concerned, we see that Kejdi Mehmetaj, who is at a young age, will still be an MP. Meanwhile, Silva Caka, who was an MP in the previous legislative session, will no longer be part of this legislative session.
ARTISTS
Artists and people of the world of culture will not be part of the next parliament
People who come from the world of art and culture will not be present in the next legislative session, because they will not be part of the list of MPs in this new Parliament. In contrast to people belonging to the world of academics or business, who will be present, people belonging to the world of art and culture don’t seem to have been included by the heads of political parties in their lists. It must be said that artists and people of culture have been present in previous parliaments.
