Parliament of Albania

The Parliament of Albania (Albanian: Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is made up of at least 140 members who are elected for a four-year term. These members are chosen through direct, universal, periodic, and equal suffrage by secret ballot. The Parliament is led by the Speaker, who has at least one deputy to help.

The Parliament has many important duties. Its powers are defined by the Constitution of Albania. It can change the borders of Albania or the Constitution itself, pass all laws, and approve the cabinet. It also supervises the government's work, can declare war, decide to end hostilities, adopt the country's budgets, and approve the state's accounts. Additional responsibilities include calling referendums, organizing elections and appointments as allowed by the Constitution, supervising government operations and civil services, and granting amnesty for certain crimes. The Parliament also elects the President of the Republic. After elections, the first meeting of the Parliament must happen within 20 days, with the President acting as the speaker. All laws passed by the Parliament are published in Fletorja Zyrtare, the official journal of the Government of Albania.

The oldest known assembly in Albania was held in Lezhë on March 2, 1444. This was the League of Lezhë (Kuvendi i Lezhës), created in Lezhë under the leadership of Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu to fight against the Ottoman Empire.

Etymology

The word Kuvend, meaning kuvendi when used in its definite form, is an old word in the Albanian language. It is believed to have come from the Latin word conventus, which means a gathering of people or an assembly. People have used this word since the fifteenth century. Back then, men from northern Albania would come together to discuss important matters, like what behaviors were allowed and what were not. These discussions led to rules that were passed down through generations, especially in northern Albania. These rules are known as the Kanuni.

In modern times, the word Kuvend was used when Albania became independent. On 28 November 1912, important leaders met in Vlorë during the All-Albanian Congress. They formed what was called the Kuvendi i Vlorës, or the Assembly of Vlora, and together they declared Albania's Independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Even after new governments came to power, the word Kuvend continued to be used for Albania’s legislative body. Today, words like Asambleja (the Assembly), Parlamenti (the Parliament), and Kuvendi are all used to describe the same idea. They are listed as synonyms in the Albanian dictionary published by the Academy of Sciences of Albania.

History

See also: League of Lezhë

Early history

The League of Lezhë was formed in 1444 as a group of Albanian leaders working together. It is seen as the first time Albania had a unified country with a leader, Skanderbeg, who fought against the Ottoman Empire. This group acted like an early parliament.

1912–1924

See also: Principality of Albania

In 1914, plans were made for a National Assembly, but wars stopped this from happening. After World War I, a group called the Council of Elders was created but never met. Later, in 1920, the National Council was formed as the first real legislative body. It created important laws and helped start Albania's first political parties.

1925–1990

See also: Albanian Republic (1925–1928), Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939), Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943), German occupation of Albania, and Democratic Government of Albania

See also: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Albania had different names for its legislature over the years. From 1947 to 1991, it was called the People's Assembly. Since 1997, it has been known as the Parliament of the Republic of Albania. The current members were chosen in the 2025 election.

Recent history

In 2023, the parliament's website was briefly shut down by a cyberattack.

Powers, duties and responsibilities

The Parliament's powers are set by the Constitution of Albania. The Parliament represents the people of the Republic of Albania and is the country's legislature. It meets twice a year, with regular sessions starting on the third Monday of January and the first Monday of September. Special meetings can be called by the President of Albania, the Prime Minister of Albania, or by one-fifth of the members.

The Parliament makes decisions by a majority vote when more than half of its members are present, but some important decisions need a three-fifths majority. It is responsible for setting economic, legal, and political policies in Albania, protecting the country's natural and cultural heritage, and forming relationships with other countries. The Parliament elects the President by secret ballot with a three-fifths majority. The President can send messages to the Parliament and set election dates. The President appoints the Prime Minister based on the Parliament's proposal, and if needed, the Parliament can choose another Prime Minister within 10 days. The Parliament also has the power to allow foreign military forces to pass through or be in Albania, and it can send the Albanian Armed Forces outside the country.

Composition

Main article: Elections in Albania

The Constitution of Albania says that the Parliament has at least 140 members. These members are chosen by people voting in a secret ballot. They serve for four years, but new elections can happen sooner if needed.

Elections for the Parliament happen a little before the current group’s time ends. The way people vote uses a system where parties are listed together, and seats are given based on the number of votes using a special counting method. There are 12 areas in the country where voters choose their representatives.

Historical composition

Since 1991

Since 1991, the Parliament of Albania has changed in size and how its members are chosen. The number of members can vary, but there are always at least 140 people who help make laws for the country. These members are chosen by the people through voting every four years. The leader of the Parliament is called the Speaker, and they have helpers to assist them in their work.

Committees

Parliamentary committees look into special topics that are too many for the whole Parliament to handle. These groups help make decisions by listening to people and groups who want to share their ideas.

The Parliament has several committees, such as:

• Committee on Legal Affairs, Public Administration and Human Rights
• Committee on European Integration
• Committee on Foreign Policy
• Committee on Economy and Finance
• Committee on National Security
• Committee on Production Activities, Trade and Environment
• Committee on Labour, Social Affairs and Health
• Committee on Education and Public Information Media

Legislatures (1920–present)