Tirana Times
TIRANA, March 9 – The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) issued Wednesday a report assessing the pre-election environment and the Preparations for the local elections of May 8 in Albania.
From the very start the report said that “the political environment continues to be deeply polarized, with harsh rhetoric and personal attacks by the leaders of the main political parties.”
Referring to their suggestions made after the June 2009 parliamentary elections the ODIHR said that there are a number of issues that remain unaddressed.
“Most importantly, the primary recommendations from both the 2009 parliamentary elections and the 2007 local elections, that “parties should demonstrate the political will for the conduct of democratic elections” and that “they should discharge their electoral duties in a responsible manner for the general interest of Albania” remain to be fully addressed. ”
It stressed, however, that “the Electoral Code provides a thorough technical foundation for the conduct of democratic elections, and that what is most needed is the commitment of political parties to uphold the letter and the intent of the law.”
It regretted the “high level of polarization and distrust among political parties.”
There are continuous calls from the international community (European Union and the United States included) that the May 8 local elections should be the next democratic tool that the Albanian political forces should focus upon and use in their political fight among each other.
They have also said that such a political distrust existing in the tiny Balkan country is also damaging its European prospects.
Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has applied for the EU’s candidate status. It got a negative response last year from Brussels and it is very much likely the same one will come later this year, in November when Brussels issues the annual progress report for each aspiring country.
It seems that the international pressure is giving some minor results. The opposition registered for the May 8 polls (though in the last hours before the time limit expired).
For the moment it seems there is not much difference in the general political situation.
The opposition leadership tours the country trying to keep its supporters motivated. They have called for repeated anti-government protests. The next one will be held next Tuesday, also to commemorate the 26 dead from the Gerdec ammunition disposal plant blast three years ago.
The government, on its side, continues to keep in line with its programme of focusing on the country’s economy, always claiming the successes of turning the country into a blossoming business despite the increase of the prices and inflation (4.5 percent in February).
All these give no hope of any possible change, or milder situation, or negotiations between the two ever-squabbling political groupings.
The upcoming May 8 local polls will be very much focused in the capital, Tirana, where it is very much likely that the existing mayor, Socialist leader Edi Rama w2ill run again for the post, this time in front of Interior Minister Lulzim Basha.
The OSCE/ODIHR recommended an Election Observation Mission be established to observe the local elections in Albania with 30 long-term observers to follow the campaign and election
Preparations and also 400 short-term observers to follow election day procedures. They may stay longer this time, a few more days after the voting day, in order to monitor the vote count, one of the key complaints from the opposition for the previous parliamentary polls.
