TIRANA, March 26 /ATA/ – By I. Vata/ The State Election Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, stated on Friday that political entities must stick to the commitments and principles to respect human rights and the rules of the Electoral Code and the acts of the CEC.
At a media briefing, Celibashi said that at the beginning of the election campaign he finds it appropriate to bring to the attention of electoral subjects, as well as all other political and institutional factors to adhere to the commitments and principles: to respect the political rights and freedoms of citizens and their rivals; to follow the rules set out in the Electoral Code and CEC acts, not to use public resources for electoral purposes; not to engage in threatening or obstructive practices in the exercise of the right to vote and the free expression of the will of the electorate; to refuse to participate in vote-buying practices and to obtain illegal funding or benefits, in particular those deriving from criminal activities; to make public in real time at the CEC and the official website of the political entity any donation as well as to refuse donations in cash or in kind that run counter to the provisions of the Electoral Code; to respect the provisions of the Electoral Code and the instruction of the CEC for posting propaganda materials. ”
“Assessing that the penal provisions provided by the Electoral Code are not intended to administratively punish public administration employees, but to increase the responsibility for the enactment of the law and legal standards, I call on electoral subjects, their candidates and civil servants not to allow in any circumstances the political use of the duty and staff of the administration. Voters should be actively involved in reporting and denouncing corrupt cases of vote buying and illegal financing of the election campaign. Elections are for the citizens, so promote and debate political issues without using inflammatory and discriminatory language and hatred. Election commissioners at all levels have an important role to play in the administration of the electoral process, showing responsibility and integrity to strictly adhere to the law and good electoral practices,” he said.
“The CEC has approved the Monitoring Methodology taking into account the OSCE / ODIHR monitoring manuals. The mission of the media is to report truthfully and inform the citizens, so I am confident that the media will carry out its important mission in the best way possible,”Celibashi said.
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