Elections were a step forward... but small

The chairman of the European Parliament delegation in the parliamentary elections in Albania has provided an interview with DW. Eduard Kukan thinks the 25 June parliamentary elections are, as he says, a small step forward.

I make the comparison to past elections, which I have followed equally closely, and I can say that the latter are best”, the head of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Albania says about DW. It also underlines that the calm political climate should be an unchanged standard in the election processes.

This time the situation has been calmer, even thanks to the position-opposital agreement that was reached a few weeks before the election was held. I repeat, Albania needs a calm climate in meeting the elections. This creates confidence and confidence in people”, followed by Kukan.

Full Interview

DW: You are an early visitor to Tirana at important events. Was this electoral process in your opinion a deadlock, step forward or step back?

Edward Kukan: Look, I come with great satisfaction and commitment to Albania, especially when it comes to such events. I have many friends here, not just politicians and officials, but ordinary people. To answer the direct question: I think these choices are a little step forward. I make my comparison with past choices, which I have followed very closely. Yeah, they're better than the old ones. Remember, this is a perception, a feeling of mine, for what's happened so far. For what we know so far, when people have voted and counting is happening. The international monitoring team will consider any aspect related to counting, obtaining results, and announcing them by local commissions and the Central Election Commission.

DW: You've had contact with representatives of political subjects, what impressions have you expressed?

Edward Kukan: This is a race, where there are winners and losers, so it turns out that some of them have been happy with what's happening are happy with numbers. Others are in the face of expectations. But political activity is so. What I want to point out is that the loser winner has to do everything in order to maintain a peaceful climate where those working on the commissions have the opportunity to do their best and the quickest their task. The calm political climate should be an unchanged standard in the election processes. This time the situation has been calmer, thanks to the opposition status agreement reached weeks before the election was held. I repeat, Albania needs a calm climate in meeting the elections. This creates trust and confidence in people.

DW: What do you expect after the election process is finalised?

Edward Kukan: Establishing new institutions based on the results of these elections. The winners start immediately to realise what they have promised, showing they have been serious about the programmes they have shown during the campaign. Given the Albanian reality, I expect that we will no longer have boycotts of institutions by the opposition. The minority is a value to democracy, it always has its duties to benefit society. What I expect from Albania after this election process is normality in the work of institutions, the continuation of important reforms. Political forces must co-operate for them. As they should co-operate and for proposals for change that the international monitoring mission will present in the final report. Further improvement of the election processes helps Albania to move safely towards European integration. The European Parliament, as yet, remains a strong supporter of Albania on the integration road.