"We witnessed the distribution of money outside the polling station" / OSCE / ODIHR releases report on April 25: Ministers and President campaign

The OSCE / ODIHR has published this Monday the final report on the findings of the voting process for the April 25 parliamentary elections in Albania.

"The ruling party gained significant advantages from being in power, including through control of the local administration and from misuse of public administration resources. This was amplified through positive media coverage of state institutions. Allegations of vote buying were persistent during the campaign. "A large number of investigations were launched. In the limited number of polling stations and counting stations observed, the process was largely transparent and smooth." stated at the beginning of the report.

Regarding the new Electoral Code, it states: "Although a number of ODIHR and Council of Europe recommendations were addressed during the electoral reform, some recommendations remain unaddressed."

The ODIHR raises concerns about vote-buying allegations and the leak of personal data to patronage workers. He also stressed that the campaign focused on the main party leaders and not on discussions about real issues.

"The campaign lacked momentum, as the messages focused on key party leaders rather than discussions on real issues. Widespread vote-buying practices continued to be a problem. Sensitive personal data leaks, including political preferences, continued. of voters is a serious concern and makes
voters vulnerable. " the report states.

Regarding the decision where party leaders are allowed to run in 4 constituencies, the ODIHR sees it as a problem of not running on equal terms.

"The law allows only party leaders, but no other candidate, to run in up to four constituencies, while other candidates can run in only one constituency, which is a violation of the right to run on equal terms  . "

The report states that the ministers were involved in the campaign during their official engagements, giving the ruling party an advantage, while the President campaigned against the ruling party. The pressure on the public administration is also emphasized.

"Pavarësisht një kuadri ligjor solid që ndalon shpërdorimin e burimeve administrative dhe minimizon avantazhin e partisë në pushtet, ministrat vazhduan të bënin fushatë gjatë angazhimeve zyrtare. Publiciteti që erdhi si rrjedhojë e kësaj i dha partisë qeverisëse një avantazh të konsiderueshëm. Ofrimi i stimujve dhe presioni i pretenduar ndaj nëpunësve civilë përbënë shqetësim. Në kapacitetin e tij zyrtar, Presidenti bëri fushatë kundër partisë qeverisëse."

"Subjekteve u kërkohet të paraqesin raporte financiare vetëm pas zgjedhjeve, duke e kufizuar në këtë mënyrë transparencën dhe mundësinë e zgjedhësve për të bërë një zgjedhje të informuar dhe të bazuar tek informimi mbi burimet e fondeve të
fushatave." thuhet ndër të tjera në raport.

Sa i përket medias, në raport thuhet: "Mjedisi mediatik është i ngarkuar. Pavarësia editoriale ndikohet negativisht nga interesat e pronarëve, gjë që nxit autocensurën. Gazetarët vazhdojnë të mbeten vulnerabël ndaj presionit dhe korrupsionit. Rregulloret që rregullojnë mbulimin mediatik të fushatës e ngushtojnë aksesin në media të partive më të vogla dhe të kandidatëve të pavarur. Transmetuesit u frenuan nga bërja e një mbulimi të thelluar dhe analitik të të gjitha subjekteve zgjedhore. Kjo, e kombinuar edhe me përmbajtjen e prodhuar nga vetë partitë në programet informative, e kufizoi mundësinë e zgjedhësve për të bërë zgjedhje të informuara. Fatkeqësisht, nuk u organizua asnjë debat televiziv mes drejtuesve politikë."

According to the ODIHR, 30 cases related to vote buying are under investigation. The report also noted that the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) witnessed a case of money laundering outside a polling station.

The report also states that overall, COVID-19 prevention measures were not well implemented and social distancing was not always respected. According to the ODIHR, the process was largely transparent and smooth.

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