Council of Europe says political confrontation delays Albania’s reforms

TIRANA, Dec. 14 – The Council of Europe on Thursday urged Albania’s political parties to give an end to the confrontation and obstructionism that were delaying the much-needed reforms of the electoral code and the media. A draft resolution on Albania prepared by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considered Albania’s Jan. 20 local elections “a major test for the capacity of the Albanian authorities to organize free and fair elections” urging political parties that some priority issues must be addressed in time for the local elections, such as recommendations regarding the voters’ lists, election administration, vote counting, tabulation and appeals procedures. “The poor political climate has again delayed major reforms, in particular in the field of election legislation and the media, which are urgently required in view also of the forthcoming local elections,” said the report. Albanian political life was “plagued by confrontation and obstructionism,” adding that a bi-partisan agreement reached on 30 August 2006 with international assistance was warmly welcomed but has yet to be implemented.
The CoE warned Albania its political squabbling would damage its integration efforts into the European Union. “The Assembly congratulates Albania on the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in June 2006 and notes that the political requirements for EU accession largely coincide with Albania’s commitments and obligations towards the Council of Europe in the field of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.”
The CoE urged Albanian authorities to continue to improve the accuracy of civil registers and voters’ lists and develop a uniform system of addresses for buildings; new identity documents should be introduced; the excessive role of political parties in electoral procedures should be limited and the election administration should be reviewed. It also urged them to resolve the dispute on the controversy that has arisen from the scope for tactical voting in the current election laws. “The Assembly regrets that relations between the political parties have remained polarized and fraught thus slowing parliamentary work on reform. All the political parties share responsibility for strengthening the powers and role of the Parliament. Major reforms require broad political consensus which should be reached in Parliament, adding that “despite the expressed intention of an ambitious reform progress announced by the current government, measured by reference to legislation actually passed, little has happened so far to reform the system of local and regional government in Albania.” “The Assembly attaches great importance to the forthcoming local elections which it considers a major test for the capacity of the Albanian authorities to organize free and fair elections. Given the failure to adopt a comprehensive electoral reform in line with recommendations made previously by international observers, some priority issues must be addressed in time for the local elections, such as recommendations regarding the voters’ lists, election administration; vote counting, tabulation and appeals procedures.”
The report also spoke about the fight against corruption and organized crime and the also urged the Albanian authorities to “fully to respect the law on civil service when hiring and dismissing staff. The effectiveness of the public administration should be further strengthened and this cannot be achieved by simply reducing or replacing staff. It is also necessary to increase the professionalism of senior civil servants and to put an end to political appointments.”