EU for elections in Albania: Developed in polarised climate, parties did not compete in equal conditions

The statement reportedly said that elections in our country were generally professional and competitive, despite their claim, took place in a highly polarised climate.

Also, some problems were reportedly identified in the elections, as political parties did not compete in equal conditions.

Kallas and Kos in their joint statement have said the EU will closely follow election developments until the final certificate of results.

Declaration:

On Sunday, Albania's people exercised their democratic right to vote, electing their representatives in Parliament. We congratulate all competent authorities that provided quiet operation throughout the country. These elections also marked the introduction of voting abroad for the first time.

According to the findings and preliminary conclusions of the OSCE Election Observation Mission/ The ODIHR, elections were generally managed in a comprehensive and transparent manner, the election day was calm and well organised despite some shortcomings.

The elections in general were competitive and professionally developed, and candidates in general were able to campaign freely, though some reportedly faced threats. However, the vote took place in a highly polarised environment in which contestants did not enjoy equal game conditions. Because of the widespread use of administrative resources and institutional impact, it may be that the ruling majority had the advantage of being in power. Numerous charges of pressure were made on voters, especially public employees. Co-ordinated efforts to investigate and prosecute election crimes are a welcome development, and tracking them is necessary to address continued concerns of election abuses. The independence of the media continues to be a problem, and its election coverage has continued to give importance to the main parties and transparency of campaign financing also remained limited.

The EU will closely follow election developments until the final certificate of 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 further electoral reform addressing all key recommendations of the ODIHR and those still unresolved by previous elections. Albania's EU integration process is a national strategic goal and a project for the entire society, which is strongly supported by the citizens of Albania. We reiterate our call for a constructive and comprehensive political dialogue, as all Albanian political parties and all sectors of society, from civil society organisations to local communities, have a role to play in further advancement of the country's EU membership process. (A2 Television)./Periscopi/