The European Union's chief diplomat and Commissioner Kos have issued a joint statement on the parliamentary elections in Albania.
The statement states that the elections in our country were generally professional and competitive, despite the fact that, according to them, they took place in a highly polarized climate.
The statement also states that several problems were identified in the elections, as political parties did not compete on a level playing field.
Kallas and Kos said in their joint statement that the EU will closely follow electoral developments until the final certification of the results.
Statement:
On Sunday, the people of Albania exercised their democratic right to vote, electing their representatives to Parliament. We congratulate all the competent authorities who ensured smooth functioning throughout the country. These elections also marked the introduction of voting abroad for the first time.
According to the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, the elections were generally managed in an inclusive and transparent manner, and election day was calm and well-organized, despite some shortcomings.
The elections were generally competitive and conducted in a professional manner, and candidates were generally able to campaign freely, although some reported facing intimidation. However, voting took place in a highly polarized environment, in which contestants did not enjoy a level playing field. Due to the extensive use of administrative resources and institutional influence, it is possible that the ruling majority had the advantage of being in power. There were numerous allegations of pressure on voters, especially public employees. Coordinated efforts to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes are a welcome development and their follow-up is necessary to address ongoing concerns of electoral malpractice. Media independence remains a problem, and its election coverage continued to favor the main parties, and transparency of campaign financing also remained limited.
The EU will closely follow the electoral developments until the final certification of the results. All political forces must ensure the continued functioning of the country's institutions.
We encourage Albania to continue to pursue all reforms necessary for its future EU membership, including the adoption of a further electoral reform that addresses all key ODIHR recommendations and those still outstanding from previous elections. Albania’s EU integration process is a national strategic objective and a project for the whole of society, which is strongly supported by the citizens of Albania. We reiterate our call for a constructive and inclusive political dialogue, as all political parties in Albania and all sectors of society, from civil society organizations to local communities, have a role to play in further advancing the country’s EU accession process. (A2 Televizion)
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