The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Media has approved the candidacy of Genta Bungo as Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, relying solely on the votes of Socialist Party members.

The nomination has now been forwarded to the plenary session, where at least 71 votes are required for final approval. The committee meeting lasted just seven minutes and was convened by one-fourth of its members, all of whom belonged to the ruling majority.

The process has drawn criticism from the opposition. Democratic Party lawmaker Jorida Tabaku said the development reflects a broader erosion of parliamentary dialogue, accusing the majority of imposing decisions through its numerical advantage.

In a statement on social media, Tabaku argued that independent institutions should not serve as extensions of political power or as transitional posts for politically affiliated appointments. She also raised concerns about what she described as a pattern of officials from the “new justice” system being transferred into independent institutions, questioning both their prior decisions and the independence of the bodies they join.

Tabaku further criticized the procedural handling of the vote, saying the decision was pushed through a meeting called outside regular proceedings, effectively sidelining the opposition and undermining parliamentary standards. She referenced international concerns, including those raised in European Parliament reports, emphasizing that democratic processes require meaningful inclusion of opposition voices.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Albania’s ruling majority and opposition over institutional independence and legislative procedures.