TIRANA, Oct 23 /ATA/ The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on Thursday released its final report on the parliamentary elections held on May 11.
The report states that the elections were competitive and conducted professionally, but took place in a highly polarized environment where participants did not enjoy equal conditions.
Candidates were generally free to campaign, although some reported instances of intimidation.
The election administration managed the process in a comprehensive and transparent manner.
Out of country voting, implemented for the first time in these elections, was well managed despite late political agreement and organizational challenges.
The report highlights advantages gained from the use of state resources during the campaign, as well as instances of pressure on voters, particularly public sector employees.
According to the report, the electoral law and its narrow interpretation did not prevent abusive practices.
Media ownership concentration, journalist self-censorship, and dominance of the two main parties in coverage limited voters’ access to balanced information.
The active use of social media by candidates amplified confrontational rhetoric, yet there was no designated body responsible for detecting misleading content.
The newly introduced coordination mechanism between institutions for investigating and prosecuting electoral offenses was recognized as a positive step, though it still needs to be fully implemented to effectively tackle persistent concerns about irregularities.
The election ran smoothly and was well-managed, though some procedural irregularities, cases of voter intimidation and influence, and insufficient transparency during the vote counting were noted.
While the legal framework offers a suitable foundation for democratic elections, there remains a need for a thorough electoral reform developed through inclusive public consultation.
Legal loopholes and ambiguities undermine the clarity of the law and generate uncertainty in its enforcement.
The report highlights that while some earlier ODIHR recommendations have been addressed, most remain unfulfilled, particularly those concerning the makeup of lower-level commissions, interim campaign finance reporting, and creating a more supportive environment for the media—including the decriminalization of defamation. This indicates a lack of political will to implement comprehensive reforms.
The Parliament is elected through a modified system of closed and preferential lists, introduced prior to these elections.
Several small parties argued that the system favors the two main parties and limits the impact of preferential voting, giving party leaders significant control over parliamentary representation. These claims were reviewed by the Constitutional Court, which found the system to be constitutional.
The technical preparations for the elections were carried out efficiently, transparently, and within the deadlines set by the Central Election Commission (CEC). However, some stakeholders perceived the CEC as politicized. The introduction of out of country voting marked a significant achievement, but its organization proved challenging due to delays.
There were issues with the delivery of ballot papers, which caused difficulties during the counting process. However, the overall management of the process remained effective. The lower-level commissions operated transparently, even though some members were replaced at the last minute, sometimes due to political intimidation.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) made efforts to improve accessibility for people with disabilities; however, observers reported that many polling stations were not adequately equipped. Electronic voting was implemented in two districts, with biometric identification used at all centers. In line with best practices, the CEC reduced its reliance on the equipment provider and managed the technology transparently.
Nonetheless, the use of electronic devices did not fully comply with the procedures outlined in the Electoral Code. While political parties and media were allowed to attend public demonstrations, the Central Election Commission did not release details about the security tests conducted.
The registration process was assessed as transparent and comprehensive, although concerns were raised regarding the protection of personal data.
Out of approximately 41,000 applications for out of country voting, many were rejected due to a lack of proof of residency.
Overall, the extension of voting rights to Albanians abroad was seen as a positive step toward increasing participation.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) registered 8 parties and 3 coalitions, with a total of 2,046 candidates.
Sixteen candidates were disqualified due to criminal convictions, and the parties were allowed to replace them.
The requirement to present complete candidate lists across all districts posed challenges for smaller parties to take part.
The campaign remained largely calm but was characterized by polarized and confrontational rhetoric, particularly on social media. These online campaigns lacked regulation, and no agency was designated to oversee them.
Although the parties signed a Code of Conduct for Digital Campaigns, manipulative content and coordinated inauthentic behavior were observed online.
Meanwhile, the government’s ban on TikTok on March 6, 2025, restricted the opportunities for some candidates.
Women’s participation in politics has increased but remains limited due to a lack of internal party democracy and financial resources.
38.5% of the candidates were women, meeting the 30% quota, while 36% of the elected deputies were female — a percentage unchanged from the previous legislature.
Shortcomings in campaign financing remain a concern.
The lack of regulations on loans, online expenses, and third-party involvement, along with unreported donations, reduced transparency and fairness in the competition.
The media environment was assessed as limited and politicized, characterized by concentrated ownership, political interference, and a lack of critical journalism.
Most media outlets are seen as aligned with the ruling party.
Defamation remains criminalized, and journalists still face lawsuits.
The Electoral Code fails to guarantee equal media coverage for parties outside the parliament, and the Central Election Commission (CEC) did not take measures to address unidentified campaign reporting.
The Complaints and Sanctions Commission (KAS) handled cases transparently but applied a narrow interpretation of the rules regarding the use of state resources, leaving many cases without sanctions.
The Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) played a positive role, and the new cooperation mechanism between the CEC and the General Prosecutor’s Office was seen as a promising development, although some expressed doubts about the effectiveness of investigations into politically sensitive cases.
The legal framework guarantees full political participation rights for national minorities, and campaigns in their languages are permitted.
However, some minority parties complained that the electoral system disadvantages them, as it requires candidates to run in all constituencies.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) prepared informational materials in minority languages, but their distribution was limited.
According to the electoral law, observers have the right to monitor the process at all levels, and electoral subjects can appoint their own observers.
However, the lack of funding for local NGOs restricted their capacity to conduct extensive observation, thereby reducing overall oversight of the process.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) prepared informational materials in minority languages, but their distribution was limited.
According to the electoral law, observers have the right to monitor the process at all levels, and electoral subjects can appoint their own observers.
However, the lack of funding for local NGOs restricted their capacity to conduct extensive observation, thereby reducing overall oversight of the process.
The electronic transmission of results was canceled and replaced by manual transmission at the district level.
Following several complaints, the CEC conducted recounts in certain cases.
1. To address outstanding ODIHR recommendations as well as various ambiguities and
inconsistencies, the electoral legal framework should be comprehensively reformed through an
inclusive consultative process well before the next elections, in line with international standards
and good practice.
2. To ensure the stability of the election administration, consideration should be given to
depoliticising the nomination procedure of lower-level election administration, also limiting
arbitrary and last-minute replacements of commission members to ensure adequate and timely
training for all members.
3. To strengthen the capacity and professionalism of Ballot Counting Teams, the CEC should
undertake specific training sessions on the counting procedures, develop a standardized training
curriculum including easy-to-understand manuals and information sheets on the counting
process.
4. Voter education efforts on e-voting should be intensified with a focus on enhancing voter
awareness of the procedures for e-voting and ensuring that all voters are able to vote
independently.
5. To remove any ambiguities in the legislation regarding campaigning, the use of administrative
resources for electoral purposes should be prohibited from the call of the elections until election
day.
6. To ensure a level playing field, authorities should take measures to prevent misuse of office and
state resources. Proportional dissuasive sanctions should be imposed swiftly against such
violations.
7. In line with good practice, the law should clearly define which pre-electoral activities constitute
campaign expenses, ensuring they are subject to appropriate reporting, oversight and potential
sanctions.
8. Footage prepared by political parties or government authorities should be appropriately labelled
as political advertising and therefore banned from news and other editorial programs.
/gj.m/j.p/sm/
