Electoral campaign kicks off with parties agreeing to vote three laws needed for EU integration, as observers show concern about polarized political atmosphere and lack of transparency over campaign financing.
TIRANA, May 30 – In a special session of Albania’s parliament, the main opposition and governing parties have agreed to pass three laws that were part of the requirements to move Albania’s EU bid forward. The laws had been blocked for years due to lack of consensus between the opposition and the government.
The three laws נon the judiciary, the public administration and a regulation on parliamentary procedures – have been part of Albania’s political discourse for years as they were part of the process of acquiring EU candidate status. The Socialists refused to previously vote on the laws in protest of the government’s unwillingness to work with the opposition to implement other laws. The government, in turn, accused the opposition of holding the country’s EU bid hostage.
International representatives congratulated the parties on reaching consensus.
“The adoption of these laws is very important, not only because it is required by Brussels, but also because it shows the capacity of working together when it is for the best of country,” said EU Ambassador Ettore Sequi. He added the vote gives a better chance to Albania for getting candidate status in the Fall, however he explained the assessment will also “include efforts that have been made in the fight against organized crime and corruption.”
The rare show of consensus shown in passing the three laws just ahead of the elections was somewhat overshadowed by the harsh debate in parliament. Both sides used the discussions in the special and likely last session of the current parliament as part of their own electoral campaign.
Such polarized debate is part of a trend, note domestic observers, who as, Albania officially entered the electoral campaign for the next parliamentary elections, have expressed deep concern over the tense political atmosphere, an early start of the campaign as well and lack of transparency over campaign financing.
Local observers worried about tense political atmosphere
Albania’s domestic elections observers, the Coalition of Local Observers, said in a preliminary report issued Monday the election campaign is being held in a very tense political atmosphere with extreme polarization seen in the two main opposing groupings.
“During this campaign, a series of violations has been identified, such as cases of the use of public administration resources, the use of children and the use of the institutional activities for the electoral campaign,” the preliminary report of the local observers said.
Some of these concurs were also noted by the country’s ombudsman, People’s Advocate, Igli Totozani, who also called on the political parties not to exert pressure and urged the people to go and report those incidents.
The report also said that the election campaign started early, in violation of the electoral law.
The local observers’ preliminary report also said there is deep distrust between the two main parties נthe governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the main opposition Socialist Party of Edi Rama.
That climate has been directly reflected in the lack of consensus at the Central Electoral Commission, following the removal of one member and then the resignation of three others. Consequently, it is not functioning properly. The political fight between the ruling majority and the opposition for control of the Central Electoral Commission has already put the polls standards and their normal holding in question.
Albanians will vote on June 23 to elect 140 MPs for a single-chamber parliament in a poll that is being closely watched by the international community.
The forthcoming election is considered as a key test for the country’s integration progress into the European Union. Albania applied for candidate status in 2009.
Post-communist Albania’s elections have never fully met international standards fully and have been marked by irregularities.
Parties get public funds, but lack financial accountability
Elections officials said Tuesday they were delivering the public funds slotted by law for the political parties’ electoral campaign.
The lion’s share goes to the two main parties – the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the main opposition Socialist Party of Edi Rama. The opposition Socialists are slotted to receive 26 million leks (roughly US$240,000) while the Democrats get slightly less, 25.6 million leks.
The funding comes as Open Data Albania, a Tirana-based watchdog group, reported that the political parties were failing to make public their lists of campaign donors ahead of the June 23 elections.
“The electoral code says that list of donors who give more than 100,000 lek should be always public, which means that parties should publish them … preferably online,” said Aranita Brahaj of the Open Data Albania, adding that even freedom of information requests filed with Albania’s main political parties had yielded no results.
“Voters have the right to be informed who is financing the subject they are voting for,” she said.
A study by Open Data Albania of financial reports filed with the Central Electoral Commission, CEC, reveals that in the 2011 local elections parties did not honor the electoral code rules on party finances.
Elections key to Albania’s progress,
says international community
International representatives insist the forthcoming June 23 parliamentary elections are a key test and one that could help or hamper further progress toward EU integration for Albania
Jonathan Moore, a senior official with the U.S. Department of State, made it clear Wednesday that if the June 23 elections were accompanied by violence it would put Albania in a collision course with the United States.
In Brussels, Peter Stano, spokesman of EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, said clearly that besides the passing the three laws required as the last step for the package of the reforms needed for the integration there were other key needs, chief among which was the holding of free and fair, democratic elections as well as tangible results in the fight against crime and corruption.
“What is important is that the elections are held in line with European standards. It is important the responsible institutions work efficiently and in an independent way,” he told Top Channel, a private TV station, Wednesday.
Stano also repeated the call to the Albanian political parties to “re-establish the political consensus and guarantee that the election process be held in a calm way and the elections are held in line with the expectations of European and international standards.”
OSCE Ambassador to Albania Eugen Wollfarth said that “having a complete CEC is high and should be high on the wish list.” He added, “Elections and the preparing of elections is something relevant that clearly includes the Central Election Commission.”
Wollfarth also said that “Opening the way to further European integration and therefore also for institutional stabilization is extremely important and therefore I wish for early decision-making, including the parliament.”
