TIRANA, May 26 – In an unprecedented call to Albanian voters, the country’s president has urged them not to fall prey to direct vote-buying, one of the ugliest phenomena in recent Albanian elections.
Observers have noted cases in the past where individuals or entire families have promised their vote to a candidate or party in exchange for cash or goods. The phenomenon has been epitomized by sacks of flower being used as a vote-buying tool among the poorest Albanians in the past.
President Bujar Nishani used the official opening date for the electoral campaign, May 22, to tell Albanians to protect “the most important act of free will expression in a democratic country.”
“Your vote is priceless. Selling your vote is shameful and … it taints us all equally,” Nishani said.
He added the candidates that buy votes, “does not respect you – they lie, despise and hate you,” the president said, using unusually strong language.
He stressed that only through voting their conscience voters can take over their destinies and can force candidates to work for social peace and improvement
The June 21 local administrative elections campaign started early this year. Both the main coalitions are conducting an aggressive campaign, using harsh language and negative ads.
