SHARECountry Data
Albania (Republic of Albania) has a Unicameral parliament with legislated quotas for the single/lower house and at the sub-national level. 50 of 140 (36%) seats in the Kuvendi / Assembly are held by women.
At a glance
Structure of Parliament: Unicameral
Are there legislated quotas...
- For the Single/Lower House? Yes
- For the Sub-National Level? Yes
Are there voluntary quotas...
- Adopted by political parties?
Is there additional information?...
- Yes
Last updated: Aug 31, 2022
Single/Lower House
Kuvendi / Assembly
| Total seats | 140 |
| Total Women | 50 |
| % Women | 36% |
| Election Year | 2021 |
| Electoral System | List PR |
| Quota Type | Legislated Candidate Quotas |
| Election details | IDEA Voter Turnout - IPU Parline |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas | Constitution | |
| Electoral law | “For each electoral zone, at least 30% of the multi-member list and/or one of the first three names on the multi-member list must be from each gender’ (Article 67 (6), Electoral Code 2015). |
|
| Legal sanctions for non-compliance | Electoral law | In case of non-compliance with the gender quota provisions, the Central Election Commission (CEC) shall impose a fine of ALL 1,000,000 (approximately €7120). In addition, the CEC shall replace each candidate with the next candidate in the list belonging to the least represented gender, until the gender quota is reached (Article 175, Electoral Code 2015). |
| Rank order/placement rules | Electoral law | ‘For each electoral zone, at least 30% of the multi-member list and/or one of the first three names on the multi-member list must be from each gender’ (Article 67 (6), Electoral Code 2015). |
| Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties related to gender equality among candidates? | Yes | See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database |
| Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? | No | See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database |
Quota at the Sub-National Level
- Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas | Constitution | |
| Electoral law | 'For elections for local government bodies, for each municipal council, one in every two consecutive names in ranking shall belong to the same gender. The subject submitting the list declares the seats, according to the gender quota' (Article 67 (6), Electoral Code 2015). |
|
| Legal sanctions for non-compliance | Electoral law | In case of non-compliance with the gender quota provisions, the CEC shall impose a fine of ALL 50,000 (approximately €357). In addition, the CEC shall replace each candidate with the next candidates in the list belonging to the least represented gender, until the gender quota is reached (Article 175, Electoral Code 2015). |
| Rank order/placement rules | Electoral law | 'For elections for local government bodies, for each municipal council, one in every two consecutive names in ranking shall belong to the same gender. The subject submitting the list declares the seats, according to the gender quota' (Article 67 (6), Electoral Code 2015). |
Additional Information
In November 2008, Albania's electoral system was reformed, introducing list proportional representation system in place of the previously used mixed member proportional representation system. Under the new system, all 140 members of parliament are elected through a proportional representation system in 12 constituencies corresponding to the 12 administrative regions. The threshold to win parliamentary representation is 3 per cent for political parties and 5 per cent for the pre-election coalitions.
In the Election of 2017 in Albania, "[w]omen were active but underrepresented in the campaign. Several events specifically targeted women voters. However, the largest political parties did not always respect the gender quota in their candidate lists and women candidates received little media attention. While some 40 per cent of candidates were women, they received only 26 per cent of seats in the new parliament. Women were also underrepresented in the election administration, including in decision-making positions." (OSCE: 2017: 2).
In September 2021, Albania's parliament successfully voted in 12 women in the cabinet consisting of 17 members. This makes it the first cabinet to have a greater majority of women than men upon the introduction of the multiparty system present. (Reuters, September 17, 2021)
Sources
LEGAL SOURCES:
- Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania (Approved by Law no. 10 019, dated 29 December 2008, amended by Law no. 74/2012, dated 19 July 2012 and Law no. 31/2015, dated 2 April 2015);
- Law On Gender Equality in Albania (2008, unofficial translation);
- Central Election Commission, Assembly Elections 25 April 2021, Accessed 20 September 2021
OTHER SOURCES:
- National Democratic Institute, 'Albania's 2011 Local Elections', Pre-election Report no, 2, 5 May 2011
- OSCE, 2017. 'Parliamentary Elections 25 June 2017: OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report', Published 28 September 2017.
Additional reading
- See the latest updates on Albania on iKNOW Politics
- Albanian Central Election Commission website, http://kqz.gov.al/
- United Nations Women, July 2017. 'In Albania, elections herald historic increase in number of women MPs' https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2017/7/feature-in-albania-elections-herald-historic-increase-in-number-of-women-mps
- Antic, M.G and Lokar, S. 2006. 'The Balkans: from total rejection to gradual acceptance of gender quotas', in Dahlerup, D. (ed.) Women, Quotas and Politics, London/New York: Routledge, pp. 138-167.
- Stability Pact Gender Task Force (SPGTF). 2002. ‘Building National Gender Equality Mechanisms in South East Europe – Women's Use of the State.’
- Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation. 2002. ‘A Compilation of NGO Report from Balkan Countries: Albania.’ Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). pp.24-53
- Woodward, Alison . 2001. ‘Women Are Doing It – Building a Gender Balanced Democracy Using Sticks, Carrots and Kisses'. Stability Pact Gender Task Force Regional Meeting, Slovenia (SPGTF).
- International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. 2000. Report: Women 2000.
- Albanian Parliament website, http://www.parlament.al/