Bronx, NY—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“The electoral reform deal in Albania contains some worthy steps forward. It includes provisions depoliticizing election administration, expanding transparency, and enhancing independence of election workers. Importantly, it will allow Albania to begin the EU accessions process, and should be adopted into law.

“That said, the parliament should take into consideration all voices and take up an additional measure in the near future which would include open lists and enabling Albanian Americans and other Albanians throughout the diaspora to vote in the 2021 elections in their place of residency. I call upon my friends in Albania to continue work on election reform so that your democracy will be strong, firmly rooted, and broad-based.”

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