The European People's Parties (EPP) adopted an emergency resolution on Albania during their congress held in Valencia, raising the alarm about the integrity of the electoral process and the state of democracy in the country, on the eve of the parliamentary elections on May 11, writes A2 CNN.
The resolution, titled “Electoral Integrity in Albania,” was proposed by the Democratic Party of Albania and was based on reports by the OSCE/ODIHR, Transparency International, the World Justice Project, and the U.S. Department of State. The document highlights a number of serious concerns related to electoral manipulation, pressure on the opposition, and the use of the state for partisan interests.
The EPP denounces the use of public funds, employment and appointments in the administration for electoral purposes, in violation of the Electoral Code and the decisions of the CEC. The case of the appointment of the interim mayor of Tirana after the arrest of Erion Veliaj, without legal procedures, has been described as a flagrant violation of local autonomy.
According to the resolution, cases of vote buying with money and through cannabis cultivation, clientelistic employment, as well as pressure on public employees to support the ruling party have been documented. These actions, the resolution states, undermine the neutrality of the state and equality in political competition.
The EPP expresses concern about the prosecutions and pressure on opposition figures and independent media. The decision to restrict access to the TikTok platform on the eve of the elections has been defined as a threat to freedom of expression and information.
The resolution calls on the institutions of the EU, the OSCE and the Council of Europe to:
Condemn the abuse of power and electoral manipulation;
To demand investigation and punishment of violators of electoral law;
Guarantee equal access to the media for all parties;
Deploy additional election observers in high-risk municipalities;
Link Albania's progress towards the EU to respect for democratic standards.
"Free and fair elections are the foundation of any functioning democracy. Albania cannot move towards the European Union without guaranteeing its citizens the right to vote freely and equally," the resolution concludes.
The EPP emphasizes that it will closely follow developments in Albania and will support democratic forces for an electoral process in line with European standards. (A2 Televizion)
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