Rama: SPAK cannot monitor parties in the electoral process/ The lesson coming to us from Belgium on electoral crimes

2025-02-22 10:18:00, Politikë CNA

Rama: SPAK cannot monitor parties in the electoral process/ The lesson coming to

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a post on social media two days ago, stated that SPAK cannot monitor political parties in an electoral process, while saying that he hoped it was a momentary lapse on the part of the Special Prosecution.

"Political parties cannot be monitored in an electoral process. I hope that this is a momentary aberration and that any kind of surveillance in the territory is immediately stopped, because we can never, ever return to the dark times of those involved in politics being monitored. Taking these positions is an interference in the political freedoms and rights of Albanians and their representatives," the prime minister said.

This statement can be taken as an intimidation by the head of government towards the work that the special structure is doing and will do in this regard.

In fact, electoral crime is a criminal offense, which is investigated and punished in countries much more developed than Albania. We bring you the concrete case of Belgium.

In Belgium, criminal offenses related to electoral fraud can be punished by imprisonment of eight days to two years, or a fine of 26 to 1,000 euros, depending on the nature of the fraud.

But who investigates criminal offenses related to electoral crimes in Belgium?

As can be seen from the graph, the public prosecutor holds the first place 66 (39%), the police 57 (34%), the special investigator 11 (7%), the election management body 8 (5%), other 20 (12%) and unspecified 41 (24%).

So, in other words, just as in Belgium, electoral crime is investigated by the public prosecutor, or special investigator, similarly in Albania, the Special Prosecution Office, like the General Prosecutor's Office, are within their Constitutional right to investigate electoral crimes.

The drafting of a strategy by SPAK for the investigation and prevention of electoral crimes during the May 2025 parliamentary elections, through the establishment of a structure and investigation groups in the field, should be viewed positively by all political parties, including the head of government himself.

Dumani responds "flame for flame" to Rama: Strategy for electoral crimes, a request from the Assembly
February 21, 12:48

If parties on the left or right want to hold free and fair elections, without buying votes and without exerting pressure on citizens, then the creation of a special investigative structure for electoral crimes by SPAK should have been applauded by everyone in unison, regardless of political affiliation./ CNA