Elections in Albania/ EU calls: Constructive and inclusive political dialogue needed

2025-05-13 18:16:00, Politikë CNA

Elections in Albania/ EU calls: Constructive and inclusive political dialogue

The European Union has today published a statement on the May 11 election process. Among other things, the EU emphasizes that the elections had some shortcomings, although they were well organized.

The EU praised the introduction of voting abroad for the first time in the history of pluralism in Albania.

The statement also calls for a constructive and inclusive political dialogue, as all Albanian 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 membership process.

"On Sunday, the people of Albania exercised their democratic right to vote, electing their representatives in Parliament. We congratulate all the competent authorities who ensured the normal functioning of the entire 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 leverage, it is possible that the ruling majority had an incumbent advantage. There were widespread allegations of pressure on voters, particularly public employees.

Coordinated efforts to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes are a welcome development and need to be continued to address ongoing concerns of electoral malpractice. Media independence remains an issue and its election coverage has continued to favor the main parties, and transparency of campaign financing has also remained limited.

The EU will closely follow 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 required 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 Albanian 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," the statement said./CNA