TIRANA, June 21 – The last week of an otherwise calm general election campaign saw an increase in the number of incidents, which included fights among activists and physical attacks on party workers.
The Socialist Movement for Integration, the country’s third largest party, had particularly been affected by the incidents, with its activists facing violence in at least two different cases.
SMI has criticised the police for not doing enough to document the incidents and punish those responsible, a claim the police deny.
Albania has semi-caretaker government for the duration of the campaign, and Interior Minister Dritan Demiraj, a technocrat proposed by the opposition, called for the sacking of three police chiefs serving in areas where there had been incidents during the campaign.
Minister Demiraj said he is closely co-operating with the prosecutor’s office to uncover electoral crimes, and that police have taken all the measures for a more timely election process.
Demiraj said in an interview with VoA that law enforcement officials were committed to fulfill constitutional duties and maintain calmness for the conduct of the election campaign.
He added police cooperation with prosecutors in solving incidents has been very good, and both institutions have invited citizens to denounce any attempt to manipulate the election.
The interior minister said the agreement between Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Lulzim Basha that led to the creation of the semi-caretaker government has positively influenced the campaign, however, law enforcement have taken all the measures to ensure a normal electoral process.
Central Elections Commission concerned
CEC Chairman Klement Zguri expressed deep concern over the incidents, adding he hoped that they remain isolated cases.
Zguri called on all voters and activists to distance themselves from any violence and any action that is against human rights and freedoms spelled out in the election law.
“Respecting the free will of every citizen is the main standard we have to meet at every stage of the electoral process,” Zguri told the media. “It is very important to achieve the highest electoral standards, as they are the key to accelerating the integration processes towards the European family.”
He added parties and state institutions should report any incidents immediately and should follow the law to the letter.
“I am confident that political leaders of all electoral subjects will intervene energetically to avoid any kind of tension and to work toward increasing trust among Albanians in the electoral process. It is time to prove maturity and seriousness,” Zguri said.
The increase in incidents came at the same time as rhetoric become harsher in the last few days of the campaign.
