Parliament of Albania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parliament of AlbaniaKuvendi i Shqipërisë |
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| 32nd Legislature | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
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Term limits
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Four years |
| History | |
| Founded | 27 March 1920 |
| Preceded by | Assembly of Vlorë |
| Leadership | |
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Speaker
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Elisa Spiropali, Socialist
Since 30 July 2024 |
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Government group leader
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Bledar Çuçi, Socialist
Since 26 July 2023 |
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Leader of the Opposition
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Sali Berisha, Democratic
Since 22 May 2022 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 140 |
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Political groups
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Government (83)
Opposition (57)
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| Elections | |
| Open party-list proportional representation D'hondt method |
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Last election
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11 May 2025 |
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Next election
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By 2029 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Parliament of Albania, Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, Tirana | |
The Parliament of Albania (called Kuvendi i Shqipërisë in Albanian, or just Kuvendi) is like the main meeting place where elected representatives from all over Albania come together. It's the country's law-making body. Imagine it as a big team of people chosen by the citizens to make important decisions for everyone.
This Parliament has 140 members. These members are chosen by the people in elections that happen every four years. Everyone who is old enough gets to vote in secret. The Parliament is led by a person called the Speaker, who has helpers called deputy speakers. The way people vote for these members is through a system where political parties get seats based on how many votes they receive. Albania is divided into 12 areas, and each area elects its own representatives.
The Parliament has many important jobs, all explained in the Constitution. They can change Albania's borders or the Constitution itself. They create all the country's laws and approve the government's main team, called the Cabinet. They also watch over what the government does, decide if Albania should go to war or stop fighting, and approve how the country's money is spent. They can also ask people to vote on big issues (called referendums) and choose the President. All the laws they pass are officially published so everyone can see them.
A very old meeting, similar to a parliament, happened in a place called Lezhë on March 2, 1444. This meeting created the League of Lezhë, led by Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu. This group worked together to protect Albania from the Ottoman Empire.
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What Does "Kuvendi" Mean?
The word Kuvend (or kuvendi) is a very old word in the Albanian language. It comes from the Latin word conventus, which means a gathering of people or an assembly.
People in Albania have used this word for a long time. In the 1400s, men in northern Albania would gather to discuss rules and laws. These discussions often involved important leaders like Lekë Dukagjini and Skanderbeg. The rules they talked about became part of a set of traditional oral laws, passed down through families. This collection of laws is known as the Kanun.
Later, in the 1800s, these laws were written down. The Kanun described Kuvendi as a meeting of families or groups of people. They would come together with their leaders to solve problems or make important agreements.
The word Kuvend was also used when modern Albania was created. On November 28, 1912, important Albanian leaders met in Vlorë. This meeting was called the Assembly of Vlora (Kuvendi i Vlorës). At this meeting, they bravely declared Albania's independence from the Ottoman Empire.
After 1946, when a new government came to power, they preferred to use Albanian words for official institutions. So, Kuvend became the name for the country's law-making body again. Today, you might hear words like Asambleja (Assembly), Parlamenti (Parliament), or Kuvendi. They all mean the same thing and are used to talk about Albania's main legislative body.
A Look Back: The History of Albania's Parliament
Early Beginnings: The League of Lezhë
The idea of Albanians working together for their country is very old. On March 2, 1444, a special meeting took place in Lezhë. This meeting created the League of Lezhë, which was a group of Albanian leaders and nobles. They all agreed to unite under Skanderbeg to protect their land from the Ottoman Empire. This League is seen as the first time different Albanian groups came together as one independent country in the Middle Ages. Skanderbeg was known as the "Lord of Albania."
Many important families joined this League. They helped by providing soldiers and money. The League even signed a peace treaty in 1448, showing it was an independent group. Historians often call the League of Lezhë the very first type of Albanian parliament.
From 1912 to 1924: Forming a Modern Parliament
After Albania became independent, leaders wanted to create a modern law-making body. In 1914, there were plans for a "National Assembly" with elected members. But big wars like the Balkan Wars and World War I made it impossible to start this assembly right away.
After World War I, between December 25 and 27, 1918, a meeting called the Congress of Durrës tried to set up a temporary government and a "Council of Elders." This council was meant to be like a Senate, advising the government. However, it didn't work out because of disagreements.
Then, after the Government of Durrës was dismissed, another important meeting, the Congress of Lushnja, established the "National Council." This was Albania's first real legislative body. It had 37 members chosen by delegates. This council was important because it showed that the government should be chosen and overseen by the people's representatives.
The National Council first met in Tirana, Albania's new capital, on March 27, 1920. They passed important laws, including one about how elections would work. This new election law helped create Albania's first two political parties: the Popular Party and the Progressive Party. The National Council finished its work on December 20, 1920, preparing for Albania's first general elections on April 21, 1921.
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From 1925 to 1990: Changes Over Time
Over the years, Albania's law-making body had different names. When Albania was a Republic, it had two parts: a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. During the time of the Albanian Monarchy (1928-1939), it was simply called the Parliament.
During times of foreign occupation, like the Italian and German occupations, the parliament's name changed to reflect the ruling powers. After World War II, when a new government took over, it was called the "Constituent Assembly" and then the "People's Assembly" from 1947 to 1991.
Since 1997, it has been known as the Parliament of the Republic of Albania. The members we have today were chosen in the 2021 election.
Recent Events
In 2023, the Parliament's website faced a cyberattack. This meant the website was temporarily unavailable.
What Does the Parliament Do?
The Parliament has many important jobs, all laid out in the Constitution. Its main role is to represent all the citizens of Albania and make laws for the country.
The Parliament meets regularly twice a year. The first meeting starts on the third Monday of January, and the second on the first Monday of September. But if something urgent comes up, the President, the Prime Minister, or a group of members can call extra meetings. These meetings are usually open for everyone to see.
Most decisions in Parliament are made by a simple majority vote, meaning more than half of the members agree. However, for some very important decisions, like changing the Constitution, a larger majority (three-fifths of the votes) is needed.
Here are some other key things the Parliament does:
- It helps decide how Albania's economy, laws, and politics work.
- It protects Albania's beautiful nature and rich cultural history.
- It decides if Albania should team up with other countries.
- It chooses the President of Albania through a secret vote.
- It approves the Prime Minister suggested by the President. If they don't approve, they choose a new one quickly.
- It must approve any foreign military forces that want to be in or pass through Albania. This also means the Parliament decides if Albanian soldiers can be sent to other countries.
How the Parliament is Made Up
The Constitution says that the Parliament must have at least 140 members. These members are chosen by secret ballot in elections. They serve for four years. Sometimes, if there's a big problem, the Parliament can be dissolved early by the President, and new elections are held.
Albania uses a special voting system called party-list proportional representation. The country is divided into 12 areas, called counties. Each county elects several members. Political parties get seats in Parliament based on the percentage of votes they receive. To get seats, a party needs to get at least 3% of the votes in an area.
Who is in the Parliament Now?
The most recent elections were held on April 25, 2021. The two biggest political parties in Albania are the Socialist Party (PS) and the Democratic Party (PD).
Here are some of the main political parties and how many members they have in Parliament:
- Socialist Party (PS) - This party has 74 members. It was founded in 1991 and is led by Edi Rama. They focus on ideas like social democracy and being progressive.
- Democratic Party (PD) - This party has 49 members. It was founded in 1990 and is led by Lulzim Basha. They focus on ideas like conservatism and economic freedom.
- Freedom Party (PL) - This party has 4 members. It was founded in 2004 and is led by Ilir Meta. They also focus on social democracy.
- Social Democratic Party (PSD) - This party has 3 members. It was founded in 1991 and is led by Tom Doshi. They also focus on social democracy.
There are also other smaller parties and one independent member who make up the rest of the 140 seats in Parliament.
How Parliament Members Work Together: Committees
Parliamentary committees investigate specific matters of policy or government administration or performance that cannot be directly handled by the Parliament due to their volume. The committees provide an opportunity for organisations and individuals to participate in policy making and to have their views placed on the public record and considered as part of the decision-making process.
The Parliament has the following committees:
- Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights (They look at laws and how the government serves people, and protect human rights.)
- Committee on European Integration (They work on how Albania can become closer to Europe.)
- Committee on Foreign Policy (They deal with Albania's relationships with other countries.)
- Committee on Economy and Finance (They focus on money matters and the country's economy.)
- Committee on National Security (They discuss ways to keep Albania safe.)
- Committee on Production Activities, Trade and Environment (They look at businesses, trade, and protecting nature.)
- Committee on Labour, Social Affairs and Health (They work on issues like jobs, social support, and healthcare.)
- Committee on Education and Public Information Media (They focus on schools, learning, and how information is shared with the public.)
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento de Albania para niños
- Politics of Albania
- Constitution of Albania
