The Albanian Parliament launched Monday procedures for electing the country’s new Ombudsperson.

The 5-year term of the current ombudsperson expires this May.

The law stipulates that any Albanian citizen that knows the law is entitled to apply, but also they must have no criminal records or hold a seat in parliament.

Those who wish to run for the post must submit the necessary documentation at the Assembly before April 19.

Candidates attend a hearing session before the parliamentary committee on laws, which verifies whether a candidate fulfills the criteria.

At the end of the hearing, the committee approves a list of candidates and outlines their respective examination results.

Those who fulfill the legal criteria must then earn the support of at least 28 members of parliament, before becoming an official candidate.

The parliament picks the winner, who needs to secure 84 votes.

However in 2017, a new precedent was set, as the Ombudsperson was chosen after a political pact among political leaders, counter to what the law says.

Prime Minister Edi Rama and Lulzim Basha, serving at the time as the leader of the Democratic Party, agreed to allow the opposition to pick a name.

It remains to be seen whether this time the new Ombudsperson will be elected following a political pact, or according to legal procedures and criteria.