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| An OSCE employee in Tirana inspecting some ballot boxes, May, 2023 |
The European Commission has provided a detailed assessment of the local elections in Albania on 14 May 2023, highlighting a serious regression in the electoral process. The report, confirmed by A2 CNN, indicates that while the elections were conducted in a peaceful environment, several issues were identified that need to be addressed.
The report notes the abuse of public resources at both national and local levels. It also highlights the pressure exerted on voters and public sector workers, as well as the alleged attempts to influence voters and the purchase of votes. These issues must be addressed and resolved (OSCE).
The report also discusses the work of the Commission's Electoral Reform Task Force, which is currently in a state of stalemate between major and opposition parties. The creation of the commission's electoral reform task force did not lead to any progress in drafting any text and in addressing the recommendations of OSBE/ODIHR and the European Commission. This requires a constructive dialogue that includes all parties osce.org.
The European Commission also expressed concern about the internal issues of the PD party. The report states that parliamentary activities continue to be affected by political polarization, despite the persistent internal conflicts within the largest opposition party.
The European Commission is calling for more cooperation from Albania in implementing EU regulations. However, it also calls for increased transparency and measures against corruption. The report states that while there are ongoing efforts and commitments in the fight against corruption, including a high-level number of high-level investigations and high-level financial resources, a serious issue remains. It suggests that corruption is widespread in many public sectors and businesses, and the investigations are limited.
The report also mentions the incinerator case and calls for more investigations into this matter. The European Commission also prioritizes the issue of Vetting in Justice.