OSCE concerned on delay of infrastructure for May 8 polls

TIRANA, Feb. 8 – Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, urged Albanian political parties Tuesday to urgently deliver the required nominations for members of the Electoral Administration Zone Commissions to the Central Elections Commission (CEC) in order to properly prepare for local government elections.
Albania holds local elections May 8.
He stressed that based on the existing Electoral Code and on the decree of the President of the Republic, the CEC had to proceed urgently with all the necessary preparations for the elections scheduled for 8 May 2011. He noted that all Albanian political parties failed to meet the official 24 January 2011 deadline to send in nominations for all elections commissioners.
“I am extremely concerned about the problems the CEC is currently facing. Only 12 of the 66 Commissions of Electoral Administration Zones have been constituted in part by the 7 February 2011 deadline,” Wollfarth said. “Such a situation shows a blatant disregard for the democratic aspirations of Albanian citizens by political parties. I call upon political parties involved to respect citizens’ right to vote and to address this issue immediately as the election day is approaching.”
The CEC head Arben Ristani said that the opposition Socialist party and the Human Rights Union Party, also part of its opposition coalition, had not send the list of names of their commissioners. He also threatened to penally sue them for not committing that duty.
The opposition has said that under the existing conditions (tough political fight) no elections could be held, though not saying they will boycott the May 8 elections.