Bylykbashi met with ODIHR in Durrës, denounced the use of the state in favor of the SP and pressures on voters

The Head of the ODIHR observation mission, Ambassador Zannier, held a meeting at the headquarters of the Democratic Party in Durrës, where he was received by leaders of this political force in the framework of monitoring the election campaign.

The opposition candidate for MP, Oerd Bylykbashi, informed the ambassador about developments on the ground, raising concerns over what he described as "massive use of the state in the service of the Socialist Party."

According to Bylykbashi, in the door-to-door meetings of the candidates of the "DP - Alliance for a Greater Albania" coalition, citizens are reacting massively in support of the DP's program and against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

He denounced the involvement of organized crime in the electoral process, through support for certain SP candidates, as well as pressure on voters through patronage groups and individuals with criminal records.

Bylykbashi said that concrete facts have been presented on this phenomenon, also mentioning the use of public institutions, such as OSHEE and water utilities, for electoral purposes.

The meeting also raised concerns about the non-extension of identity cards, which, according to the DP, risks preventing hundreds of thousands of citizens from participating in the vote.

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Ambassador Zannier, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission, held a meeting at the headquarters of the Democratic Party branch in Durres. He expressed interest in the developments of the election campaign and its issues in Durres.

Voters are reacting massively in support of the DP program and against the corrupt government of Edi Rama in the door-to-door meetings of the candidates of the DP - Alliance for a Greater Albania coalition.

The massive use of the state in favor of the SP, the involvement of organized crime in the elections and its support for the inclusion of certain candidates on the SP list, coordination between the SP and criminal organizations through individuals designated by the Prime Minister, pressures on voters and vote buying, etc., were presented with concrete facts to the ODIHR head of mission. The electoral asphalt, employment, the granting of property titles in exchange for votes, the use of schools, central public service enterprises or municipalities such as OSHEE and water supply, etc., were concretely proven.

We reported on concrete denunciations, but the impunity produced by the repeated inaction of SPAK and the prosecution, as well as the active role of the police in supporting illegal actions by SP and crime exponents, has resulted in persons sentenced to imprisonment or wanted, being active in the field in favor of the SP under the protection of the deliberate inaction of law enforcement bodies.

In my capacity as Vice President of the Democratic Party, I emphasized that the failure to extend the validity period of identity cards for citizens who vote in Albania was raised as a major problem nationwide, risking that hundreds of thousands of voters would be prevented from voting.

The ODIHR representatives were referred to the hot spots, requesting increased monitoring, and we requested that the CEC and the task force created act to ensure peaceful voting without pressure from patronage agents and criminals affiliated with the SP near the polling stations.