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Berisha with the DP delegation meets MEP Kols: The path to the EU passes through free elections

Politiko 2025-06-04 11:26:16

Berisha with the DP delegation meets MEP Kols: The path to the EU passes through

Yesterday, a high-level delegation from the Democratic Party of Albania, led by Chairman Sali Berisha, held a meeting with Richard Kols, Member of the European Parliament from the ECR Group and part of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).

During the meeting, Berisha presented a clear and shocking overview of the dramatic situation of democracy in Albania, with particular emphasis on developments before, during and after the parliamentary elections of May 11, 2025. He denounced the extreme concentration of power in the hands of Prime Minister Edi Rama, emphasizing that all major opposition leaders have been arrested, prosecuted or face political charges, in a repressive and unprecedented climate for a candidate country for membership in the European Union.

Berisha stressed that the May 11 elections were not only a profound violation of democratic principles and the Electoral Code, but a complete electoral farce, conducted under conditions of political terror, misuse of institutions and criminal interference. He brought to attention a series of documented facts that prove a systematic pattern of electoral manipulation, including:

• Massive vote buying through the use of public funds and illegal contracts;

• Activation of the Socialist Party's patronage network and misuse of personal data for electoral pressure;

• Infiltration of organized crime groups into the electoral process in over 10 regions and over 20 municipalities, in support of around 30 SP candidates;

Berisha denounced the efforts of Edi Rama and Foreign Minister Igli Hasani to influence the change of the preliminary report of international observation missions through threats and pressure on observers.

For his part, MEP Rihards Kols expressed himself as well-informed about developments in Albania and expressed interest in pursuing issues that transcend Albania's borders, both through questions to EC Commissioners and the establishment of a fact-finding mission in Albania to directly assess the situation in Albania.

The meeting emphasized that Albania's path towards the European Union cannot move forward without the restoration of democratic standards, the guarantee of free and fair elections, and the separation of powers as the foundation of a functional democratic system.

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