Same-sex unions are not currently recognized in Albania.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced in a cabinet meeting on 29 July 2009 that the government would push for a law that recognises marriages between partners of the same sex. He said that the law had already been put to parliament.[1][2][3]
On 5 February the Albanian parliament passed an anti-discrimination law which banned discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.[4][5] Gay rights groups praised the new law but said they hoped that Berisha would eventually keep his promise on legalising same-sex marriage.[6]
The government never officially introduced the same-sex marriage bill. Legalization of same-sex marriage would require a change in Albania's Family Code, and changes to the Family Code require 84 votes in the Assembly. The ruling Democratic Party, together with their allies, have only 71 votes. The Socialist Party, which have 63 votes, and their leftist allies are boycotting parliament in protest against alleged voter fraud in the 2009 parliamentary elections. As long as the Socialists continue to boycott, it will therefore be impossible to amend the Family Code.[7]
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