Bylykbashi at the Stabilization and Association Commission: ODIHR confirmed lack of equality in the May 11 race

Democratic MP Oerd Bylykbashi in the European Union-Albania Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee, that in the May 11 parliamentary elections there was an uneven playing field between the majority and the opposition, also referring to the ODIHR report. 

Oerd Bylykbashi's full speech:

Honorable colleagues, honorable participants in this important meeting.
Yes, we have just emerged from an electoral process that will be remembered as one of those that returned Albania to electoral standards after more than 20 years. It is the first time that the audit report opens in the first sentence with the finding that there was no level playing field. And this says a lot, because it summarizes a series of other commitments that come from OECD or Council of Europe standards.

In the first paragraph of the preliminary statement, not yet in the final report, the ODIHR emphasizes that the government has taken advantage of its position as a majority during the electoral race. So, in theory there was a race, but the contestants were not allowed to compete under the same conditions, on the same tracks and with the same freedom. I think we will all have to wait a little longer to understand more. We, as the opposition, know this. We are proving it every day. We are bringing new evidence that goes even further than what the ODIHR has reported so far.

The ODIHR is not saying that there are allegations of a lack of equality in the competition. It is drawing conclusions. It is not saying that there are allegations of benefit from power. It is drawing conclusions. So, for the final report, we will have to wait to see what else comes to light.

A full complaint is now underway with strong evidence of serious violations of basic election standards. Including violations of the secrecy of the vote, ballot box tampering, ballot paper tampering, ballot stuffing, family voting, and many other violations that clearly show that basic commitments were violated.

Diaspora voting was a positive development on the surface, but it was accompanied by massive fraud, especially in the sending and receiving of ballots. Many voters, unfortunately, never received their ballots, or did not find out who had voted on their behalf.

Now I want to focus on something important. The last electoral reform we did by consensus was in 2012, when the Democratic Party was in government. Since then, there have been no more reforms by consensus. There have been attempts, but they have been violated later, so there has been no real consensus.

This speaks volumes about the spirit with which this government is approaching such important issues. Important reforms must be done by consensus, because our goal is common: to have a country that is worthy of the European Union, but more importantly, worthy of its citizens in terms of democracy.

We have dozens of recommendations over the years that have not been implemented, or even addressed. And on the other hand, there is talk about how "champion" Albania is on paper.

So, for me, the question is: What mechanism will we manage to put in place together to ensure that the European integration process - including the opening of chapters, is linked to real developments in the country, including democracy, elections, human rights? So that progress on paper also reflects the real development of the country, not be two separate things.

Will we be able to bring these things together or will we continue on two separate paths, one reality on the ground and another on paper?

Thank you.