Friday, January 15, 2021

Since December 25, the new provisions of the Electoral Code, which provide for the prohibition of public activities and the use of state resources in a period of 4 months until the Parliamentary Elections, have taken effect. These restrictions aim to create fair and equal conditions for all candidates and political parties participating in the electoral process, as well as for the non-use of public funds and resources for political party purposes. Misuse of such resources can undermine the quality of democracy and the functioning of state institutions.

We, a group of Civil Society Organizations, carefully followed the first administrative procedure of the Central Election Commission against the head of the State Property Registration Agency of Lushnja, regarding the publication of photos of the issuance of permits for the legalization of citizens' houses by an MP. Encouraging the CEC to continue further monitoring in case of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Code, we recommend that this process and related penalties be more functional, transparent and more institutional towards any denounced senior state official.

Political entities and public institutions involved in the case prosecuted in Lushnja are also encouraged to undertake administrative proceedings against their political representatives as well as the leaders of the structure, to establish practices for distancing themselves from these illegal actions in the future.

The limitation of state resources in the elections was part of the agreement of 5 June 2020 of the main political actors in the country involved in the electoral reform, as one of the main demands of the opposition, but also to address one of the important recommendations of the last report of the OSCE-ODIHR Observatory Mission. This political agreement was widely welcomed by the international community, describing it as an important condition for the opening of Albania's accession negotiations with the European Union.

We appeal to the politically elected and senior officials subject to these restrictions to honor the commitment to fair play during these remaining months until April 25, in accordance with a standard promised and long-awaited by citizens to enable free and fair elections. Citizens deserve more ideas and programs in these elections than performances by cutting electoral tapes or sharing in front of cameras the keys to apartments rebuilt following the earthquake.

These actions not only display an undeserved personalization of public investment financed by citizens' taxes or international grants, creating inequality between candidates in elections but also promote a clientelistic behavior of voters with public administrators, distorting the true mission of the representative elected.

Convinced of the importance of this process to guarantee the trust of political parties and the public in the legitimacy of elections, we will continue to provide our capacities and experiences to ensure the monitoring and implementation of the provisions of the Electoral Code by each actor involved. We call on the public to be our ally in this important mission for the future of the country.


Signatory organizations:
Academy of Political Studies
Institute of Political Studies
Association for Democratic Culture