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MEPs' strong statements on Albania before the elections: Still problems with vote manipulation

Politiko 2025-04-09 16:26:27

MEPs' strong statements on Albania before the elections: Still problems

The European Parliament held a hearing today on the situation in Albania ahead of the parliamentary elections in our country.

Some MEPs have raised their concerns about the situation in which our country is awaiting the upcoming parliamentary elections, emphasizing problems with vote manipulation, referring to reports from past elections, the use of state resources in the campaign, etc.

MEP Andrey Andreev Kovache: Albania still has problems with vote manipulation

MEPs' strong statements on Albania before the elections: Still problems

We are not here to do party propaganda, but we are here to adhere to principles.
Albania is an important candidate country for us and we would like it to have great success on the European path and it is worth noting that the opposition is also on the same side of European integration.
Looking at the report of the 2023 local elections, I want to say that there are some problems, such as vote buying, especially in vulnerable communities in Albania.
The manipulation of the voter list and the use of state resources in the campaign, I would like to know and hear whether in these upcoming elections, there will be transparency and honesty in the electoral process of May 11.
All parties, including the opposition and other parties, must be treated equally during the campaign. These are basic principles that apply to all countries, both within the European Union, but also outside it, especially for candidate countries.
I think the main things for us should be the guarantee that the changes to the Electoral Code minimize the problems that were identified in the report on the 2023 local elections
. It is very important that there is transparency, honesty and equality for all parties in the electoral process.

MEP Riho Terras: My concern is the implementation of the law in Albania, especially before the elections
MEPs' strong statements on Albania before the elections: Still problems

I would like to express my concern about the situation of democracy and the rule of law in Albania, especially now, close to the elections.
While there are serious concerns, we should not neglect them, but we should help Albania to resolve these concerns.
We should discuss how to monitor the electoral campaign and the elections very closely in the coming weeks, because there are a number of worrying practices from past elections.
Vote buying, manipulation of the voter list and the use of state resources are nothing new for the socialist government that is in power.
For an EU candidate country, this is not the right way to go to the elections, as there are also problems with corruption.
Based on the European Commission reports of 2023-2024, the high level of corruption is worrying and the problem has not been properly addressed by politics and has not been properly fought by legal mechanisms.
How can the EU and its institutions push the government to respect the basic terms of law enforcement and how can these institutions encourage the country to fight corruption.
I want to ask what are the things that we have in our hands now before the elections, and not discuss these things afterwards.

MEP Sebastião Bugalho: The current government has refused to set up investigative commissions, a matter of principle?
MEPs' strong statements on Albania before the elections: Still problems

I wanted to make a small intervention and I understand the concern of some colleagues here, about holding this session before the elections, but we are actually not two weeks before the elections, but more than 1 month.
I want to say, and it is ironic that, we have been criticized for holding this meeting before the elections, but I know that some members of this committee will say that, if we hold this meeting after the elections, they will say that we do not recognize the result, and holding this meeting would be an intervention.
If we do not hold this meeting, after before but not after the elections, then when would we be able to hold it? Never!
The solution to not criticize and I am talking about the deputies who are not members of this committee, is simply to not speak.
Two small issues.
It is known that the current government is not a fan of parliamentary investigation and has refused to establish investigative committees. I want to know if this is a matter of principle, is a habit, or is it something that they do not want to talk about.
Why don't they want parliamentary investigations, when there are many MPs who want to do these investigations.
And my second question is for all of you speakers here who are participating in this meeting, it's simple; in your opinion, the Kremlin or Washington is more interested in Albania not being part of the EU today.