TIRANA, May 5 – Albania’s Central Election Commission warned political parties they are violating the law by launching the electoral campaign for the June 21 local administrative elections ahead of the legally-mandated start date of May 22.
“The CEC calls on political parties to immediately stop electoral campaigning that is in violation of the Electoral Code,” CEC Chief Commissioner Lefteri Luzi said in a press conference.
Parties face a fine of up to Lek 500,000 for breaking the rules.
Luzi also asked the media to stop covering electoral activities of parties or candidates.
The calls come as candidates and political leaders have gone in full campaign mode holding daily meetings with voters and interest groups, explaining their programs and goals.
Several media outlets said that based on their interpretation of the law, CEC cannot mandate what they do ahead of May 22. Most Albanian media have continued to cover the campaign.
There were no immediate reactions from political parties.
The electoral campaign normally starts a month before the polls and is stopped one day before the polls take place.
Albania will hold the municipal elections on June 21 under a new administrative division as the country is now divided into just 61 municipalities that are a mix of urban and rural areas. Previously, the country was divided into 384 urban town halls and rural communes.
The changes came as a cost-cutting move, but have also been criticized for drawing borders to create political strongholds.
