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DITARI POLITIK

EU reacts to May 11 elections: Voting with uneven playing field and use of state resources by SP

Politiko 2025-05-13 17:33:16

EU reacts to May 11 elections: Voting with uneven playing field and use of state

The European Union has reacted today for the first time regarding the conduct of the May 11 parliamentary elections in Albania. In a joint statement, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, praised the calm and technical organization of the process, but warned of a number of problems that have affected the fairness of the electoral race.

According to the statement, the elections were generally managed in an inclusive and transparent manner, while the voting day was calm and well-organized. However, the EU emphasizes that the process took place in a climate of deep political polarization, where contestants did not have a level playing field.

FULL DECLARATION:

On Sunday, the people of Albania exercised their democratic right to vote, electing their representatives to Parliament. We congratulate all the competent authorities who ensured smooth functioning throughout the country. These elections also marked the introduction of voting abroad for the first time.

According to the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, the elections were generally managed in an inclusive and transparent manner, and election day was calm and well-organized, despite some shortcomings.

The elections were generally competitive and professionally conducted, and candidates were generally able to campaign freely, although some reported facing intimidation. However, the voting took place in a highly polarized environment, in which the contestants did not enjoy a level playing field. Due to the extensive use of administrative resources and institutional influence, it is possible that the governing majority had the advantage of being in power.

There were widespread allegations of pressure on voters, particularly public officials. Coordinated efforts to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes are a welcome development and their follow-up is necessary to address ongoing concerns of electoral malpractice. Media independence remains a problem, and its election coverage continued to favor the main parties, and transparency of campaign financing also remained limited.

The EU will closely follow the electoral developments until the final certification of the results. All political forces must ensure the continued functioning of the country's institutions.

We encourage Albania to continue to pursue all reforms necessary for its future EU membership, including the adoption of further electoral reform that addresses all key ODIHR recommendations and those still outstanding from previous elections. Albania's EU integration process is a national strategic objective and a project for the whole of society, which is strongly supported by the citizens of Albania.

We reiterate our call for a constructive and inclusive political dialogue, as all of Albania's political parties and all sectors of society, from civil society organizations to local communities, have a role to play in further advancing the country's EU accession process.