OSCE Sounds Alarm on Albania’s Local Elections

A report released on Wednesday by the OSCE raises the alarm that Albania’s upcoming local ballot might be damaged by political maneuvering.

Besar Likmeta

Tirana

Voter casts ballot during election | Photo by : OSCE

“The political environment continues to be deeply polarized, with harsh rhetoric and personal attacks by the leaders of the main political parties,” the OSCE says in the report, which was written after a fact-finding mission visited in Tirana in January.

The report notes that local political parties have failed to address the two main OSCE recommendations after the disputed 2009 general elections, that “parties should demonstrate the political will for the conduct of democratic elections” and that “they should discharge their electoral duties in a responsible manner for the general interest of Albania”.

The last parliamentary election in June 2009 has resulted in a prolonged standoff between the ruling centre-right majority and the Socialist opposition over the results. Nearly two years after the poll, the squabble continues to be a source of tension.

The political crisis, which brought to a halt the passage of reforms necessary for EU membership, thwarted Albania’s bid to obtain EU candidate status in 2010.

As the May 8 local elections approach, Albania’s ruling majority and Socialist opposition remain deeply divided, following the death of four opposition protestors during an anti-government rally on January 21.

Although it registered for the poll, the opposition has refused to nominate its candidates for the local bi-partisan ballot counting commissions. Opposition representatives have also boycotted the meetings of the Central Electoral Commission, CEC, since January.

“Despite the obligation of CEC members to fulfill their duties in an independent manner, the preparations for the local elections have already led the CEC to split along party lines,” notes the OSCE report.

“Opposition members of the CEC have not attended or have walked out of a number of CEC meetings, and the practice of instructions being co-signed by the chairperson and the deputy chairperson seems to have ceased,” the report adds.

The needs and means mission concludes that the OSCE should have a robust presence in Albania during the local elections, with 30 long-term monitors and 400 short-term observers to follow polling day procedures.

The international observers would support 900 local monitors, which are expected to be deployed by a coalition of Albanian NGOs.