Immigrant's Vote? A Postponed Challenge for Albania

Abstract

Even though Albania is one of the smallest European countries, it has one of the highest rates of emigration. It is among the few countries that have not yet implemented the participation of emigrants abroad in political elections. The study analyzes the problems of the case of Albania, the features of emigration and the political behavior with the regard to it, the constitutional and legal rapports, as well as the contrast between the international commitments of Albania, the expectations of emigrants themselves, the electoral promises of the parties, and the fragile practical achievements. My paper argues that due to the significant importance that emigration has with regard to the total number of population, the regional and global trend of granting emigrants the voting right, and the need of the political system for expansion, competition, inflows of ideas and energy, Albania has to make an immediate, stable and effective choice for involving all emigrants in political decision making.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n7p498