Albanian presidential election, 2007
Encyclopedia
Indirect
Albanian presidential elections in 2007 were held on 20 and 27 June, 8 and 11 July, 14 July, and 20 July.
the President is elected by the Assembly
. A candidate requires three-fifths of the vote in parliament and if no candidate reaches this after five votes there must be new elections to the Assembly; there also have to be early elections if there is no vote on any candidate by the third attempt of the first round of voting.
was elected as a consensual president and was accepted by both the majority and the opposition parties. The parties would not agree to reelect Moisiu despite his agreement to stand as a compromise candidate. Neither Bamir Topi
of the right nor Fatos Nano
or Edi Rama
of the left had the necessary supermajority in parliament, and therefore it was considered to be very likely that early elections would have to be held after five failed attempts to elect the president.
Current prime minister and former president Sali Berisha
had advocated for a president elected by direct popular suffrage, but due to lack of time, such changes could not take place before the 2007 elections.
On 12 July 2007, Rama officially called for early elections. A majority of Albanians were against early elections.
, as a compromise candidate, but the government rejected him.) They then set the third attempt of the first round of voting (the first one to actually see any candidate stand for the post) for 8 July. Topi was the official nominee of the ruling coalition, while Nano did not stand as the opposition's candidate (his own party does not support him as a candidate), but de facto as an independent.
, the leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance Party
. Since he and Topi got the most votes, they proceeded to the fourth round. For the first time, more than the 84 members of parliament necessary for a valid election were present.
These surprising results stifled the impending early elections; Topi's election was only possible because five opposition members voted for him instead of Ceka.
Indirect election
Indirect election is a process in which voters in an election don't actually choose between candidates for an office but rather elect persons who will then make the choice. It is one of the oldest form of elections and is still used today for many upper houses and presidents...
Albanian presidential elections in 2007 were held on 20 and 27 June, 8 and 11 July, 14 July, and 20 July.
Constitutional provisions
According to the Albanian ConstitutionConstitution of Albania
The current Constitution of Albania was adopted on November 28, 1998. It defines Albania as a parliamentary republic. According to the current Constitution, the Republic of Albania has a unicameral legislature composed of 140 deputies, who elect the head of state, the President of Albania, and the...
the President is elected by the Assembly
Assembly of Albania
The Parliament of Albania , formerly the People's Parliament is the unicameral parliament of the Republic of Albania.It has 140 members, elected for four-year terms. The electoral system is closed list proportional representation. There are 12 multi-member constituencies, corresponding to the...
. A candidate requires three-fifths of the vote in parliament and if no candidate reaches this after five votes there must be new elections to the Assembly; there also have to be early elections if there is no vote on any candidate by the third attempt of the first round of voting.
Early elections
In 2002, Alfred MoisiuAlfred Moisiu
was the fourth President of the Republic of Albania from July 24, 2002 to July 24, 2007. He is the son of Albanian Army general Spiro Moisiu....
was elected as a consensual president and was accepted by both the majority and the opposition parties. The parties would not agree to reelect Moisiu despite his agreement to stand as a compromise candidate. Neither Bamir Topi
Bamir Topi
Bamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:...
of the right nor Fatos Nano
Fatos Nano
Fatos Thanas Nano is an Albanian economist who was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods, the first leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, and member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009...
or Edi Rama
Edi Rama
Edi Rama is an Albanian politician, painter, publicist, professor, and former athlete. Currently he is the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, the biggest party in Albania , by wining the most of votes as a party in the last eight election.He has served as board member at the local Soros...
of the left had the necessary supermajority in parliament, and therefore it was considered to be very likely that early elections would have to be held after five failed attempts to elect the president.
Current prime minister and former president Sali Berisha
Sali Berisha
Sali Ram Berisha is an Albanian politician and cardiologist, currently the Prime Minister of Albania and the leader of Democratic Party of Albania ....
had advocated for a president elected by direct popular suffrage, but due to lack of time, such changes could not take place before the 2007 elections.
On 12 July 2007, Rama officially called for early elections. A majority of Albanians were against early elections.
Vote
In the first two attempts for the first round of voting (on 20 June and 27 June), no candidate was presented. On 5 July 2007, the government and the opposition presented their proposed candidate lists to the other group, but did not accept either list; they agreed to meet on 6 July 2007 to start another attempt on finding a consensus candidate, which failed. (The opposition had proposed Albania's military representative to NATO, Brig. Gen. Arjan ZaimiArjan Zaimi
General Major Arjan Zaimi is Albania's representative to NATO.In 2007, he was the first contender to be the President of Albania after the negotiations of majority and opposition for the consensual name of the head of state.-References:...
, as a compromise candidate, but the government rejected him.) They then set the third attempt of the first round of voting (the first one to actually see any candidate stand for the post) for 8 July. Topi was the official nominee of the ruling coalition, while Nano did not stand as the opposition's candidate (his own party does not support him as a candidate), but de facto as an independent.
First round
The first round of voting on 8 July gave the following results (the opposition boycotted the vote due to the lack of a consensus candidate).- Bamir TopiBamir TopiBamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:...
: 75 votes - Fatos NanoFatos NanoFatos Thanas Nano is an Albanian economist who was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods, the first leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, and member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009...
: 3 votes
Second round
The second round on 11 July was again boycotted by the opposition and had the following results:- Bamir Topi: 74 votes (84 votes were necessary to secure the post)
- Fatos Nano: 5 votes
Third round
While the opposition continued its boycott on 14 July in the third round, a new candidate entered the field: Neritan CekaNeritan Ceka
Neritan Ceka is an Albanian archaeologist and Professor of Archaeology. He has actively participated in politics since 1991 and was a presidential candidate and is now leader of the Democratic Alliance Party....
, the leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance Party
Democratic Alliance Party (Albania)
The Democratic Alliance Party is a centrist liberal party in Albania. The party was formed in 1992 by Neritan Ceka and other dissidents of the Democratic Party of Albania. Theyopposed the leadership of the party's leader Sali Berisha. The Democratic Alliance Party became part of a socialist led...
. Since he and Topi got the most votes, they proceeded to the fourth round. For the first time, more than the 84 members of parliament necessary for a valid election were present.
- Bamir TopiBamir TopiBamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:...
: 50 votes - Neritan CekaNeritan CekaNeritan Ceka is an Albanian archaeologist and Professor of Archaeology. He has actively participated in politics since 1991 and was a presidential candidate and is now leader of the Democratic Alliance Party....
: 32 votes - Fatos NanoFatos NanoFatos Thanas Nano is an Albanian economist who was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods, the first leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, and member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009...
: 3 votes
Fourth round
In the fourth and potentially penultimate round on 20 July, 90 parliamentarians were present, including ten from the opposition. The results this time were:- Bamir TopiBamir TopiBamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:...
: 85 votes - Neritan CekaNeritan CekaNeritan Ceka is an Albanian archaeologist and Professor of Archaeology. He has actively participated in politics since 1991 and was a presidential candidate and is now leader of the Democratic Alliance Party....
: 5 votes
These surprising results stifled the impending early elections; Topi's election was only possible because five opposition members voted for him instead of Ceka.