Thousands of local observers for the June election

TIRANA, June 28 – Besides more than 400 international observers for the June 28 parliamentary elections in Albania, there will also be some 2,500 observers from a network of Albanian NGOs.
The June 28 parliamentary elections are seen as a litmus test for the country’s EU
aspirations, a crucial test for the country’s democratic credentials.
The election monitoring network is headed by a series of Tirana-based NGOs, including the Mjaft Movement, the Institute for the Development of Election Systems, the Democratic Culture Foundation, Women for Global Action, the Kombinat Center, KRIIK Albania and others, local media reported on Monday.
The coalition will have some 2,500 independent observers to monitor the voting process in polling stations, while 400 observers will be attached to the regional vote-counting centers, thus covering half of the polling stations in Albania’s twelve voting regions and all 66 vote-counting stations across the country.
On June 28, nearly 3.1 million voters will be eligible to cast a ballot for the 140 deputies to be elected to a new parliament.
Albania has not yet been able to hold free and fair elections that meet international standards. As a new NATO member its new democratic standards will be challenged.