Tabaku: Elections, a missed opportunity for Albania and a failed test for democracy

The Chairwoman of the European Affairs Committee in the Albanian Parliament and Democratic Party MP, Jorida Tabaku, stated today that the May 11 elections constitute a missed opportunity for Albania and a failure for democracy, at a key moment for the country's European integration.

During the first meeting of the Commission after the elections, Tabaku emphasized that this electoral process, the first after the opening of negotiations with the European Union, should have been a test of different behavior by the political class and the strengthening of democratic standards. “Unfortunately, the elections were neither free nor fair. The preliminary OSCE/ODIHR report highlighted the pressure on the administration, the use of state resources and the close connection between the state and the ruling party,” she said.

According to Tabaku, instead of showing progress, the country took steps back. “It doesn’t matter how many chapters or groups of chapters are opened in negotiations; what matters is improving standards and respecting democracy in practice,” she added.

Referring to the report prepared on Cluster 1 by the European Commission, Tabaku warned that the problems in the elections, along with other issues of the rule of law and the functioning of institutions, risk becoming a serious obstacle to the progress of Albania's integration into the EU.

The word Tabaku:

Allow me to say that in this strange return after the elections, where under normal circumstances we should have a new parliament, we still continue with the same parliamentary composition. It is the first meeting of the European Affairs Committee and I want to share two essential thoughts.

First, the May 11 elections were the first to be held in a new context for Albania — in a country that has opened negotiations with the European Union. It was a major test for democracy, an important test to show that Albania can behave as a country that follows and respects European standards not only in theory, but in practice. Unfortunately, it was a failed test.

As Chair of the European Affairs Committee and the Integration Council, I regret that these elections represented a missed opportunity for the country. They were a chance to show that democracy can work, that political parties can compete on equal terms, and that the administration can stand firm against political pressure. But from the OSCE/ODIHR preliminary report, from the evidence on the ground, and from the way the process was conducted, it is clear that this standard was not met.

The pressure on public administration, the use of state assets for campaigning, the close connection between the ruling party and the state, as well as government decisions that directly influenced the electoral process, make it impossible to consider this a free and fair process by European standards. Albania missed an opportunity to prove that it is truly at a new democratic stage.

I firmly believe that it does not matter how many chapters or groups of chapters are opened in the integration process. What matters is how standards are improved, how political rights are respected, how elections are held and how the separation of powers works. The Commission's report on Cluster 1 — which includes the rule of law, democratic institutions and fundamental rights — is very clear: if the quality of elections and the functioning of institutions are not improved, then formal progress in the negotiations is meaningless.

Our Committee has a legislative agenda to pursue, but I believe that in addition to the usual obligations, we must also address this situation. We must discuss the OSCE/ODIHR report, identify the responsibilities of the Assembly and demand that this institution reflect. Moreover, we are at an important diplomatic moment, with the end of the Polish Presidency and the beginning of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU — another reason to show seriousness and recover lost standards.

I emphasize once again: there is no other path for Albania than the European path. But this path requires standards, requires real reform, and requires political will to improve.