Albania’s Catholic Bishops Warn Against Election Fraud

Albania’s bishops have called on believers not to sell their votes in the June 23 parliamentary elections, while urging politicians to clean up their confrontational rhetoric.

Besar Likmeta

BIRN Tirana

 

“It’s well known that in many areas of Albania, ballots are sold, bought or stolen under duress,” the Catholic bishops wrote in an open letter.
“Trading one’s vote is selling out freedom,” they added.
The bishops also underlined that pressure exerted on people who work for public bodies vote in a certain way in order to keep their jobs was inexcusable and a direct violation of human rights.
The appeal represented a rare intervention by the Catholic church into domestic politics, underlining the importance of the June 23 parliamentary elections, which are seen as a test for Albania’s democratic credentials.
Since the country emerged from the autocratic Stalinist regime of former dictator Enver Hoxha two decades ago, it has never held elections that met international standards.
Like many before it, the June 23 vote will be held under the EU’s watchful gaze, with Albania desperately seeking to get closer to future membership despite making little progress over the last three years.
The bishops also urged politicians to tone down their rhetoric.
“We urge political parties and candidates on the campaign trail to hold a positive campaign and not go down to the level of insults, swearing and humiliation of an opponent and their family,” the open letter said.
“The campaign should be based on programmatic proposals and not denigration of an opponent,” it added.