Election Chief Kume: Local Referendums on New Map Unlikely

Former head of Albania's Central Election Commission, Kristaq Kume, says that holding local referendums to challenge the government's new territorial map is unlikely to succeed. He points to the 2014 case when 135 communes and six municipalities sought referendums; the KQZ initially approved the request, but the Electoral College overturned it, ruling that boundary issues are not within the competence of local authorities.

Kume adds that Albania lacks a specific law governing referendums, noting that the existing provisions are over two decades old and only appear in a chapter of the electoral code. While opposition parties are calling for a nationwide referendum on the proposed territorial changes, Kume stresses that without new legislation the process cannot move forward.