The main opposition DP had contested the results, alleging serious irregularities and legal violations throughout the electoral process. However, the Electoral College, acting as the final arbiter, rejected these claims, affirming the validity of the vote and issuing a final ruling that cannot be appealed.

The Democrats opposed the Regulatory Commission’s August 28 decision to certify the elections, citing documented breaches confirmed by international monitoring bodies including OSCE-ODIHR, as well as evidence gathered during the process.

In response, Socialist Party representative at the Electoral College, lawyer Eridian Salianji, argued that the appeal lacked both formal and substantive grounds.

He referenced Article 167 of the Electoral Code, noting that the official announcement of election results only takes place after the appeals process is complete.

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In separate rulings, the Electoral College dismissed the opposition’s appeal against the Central Election Commission’s validation of the May 11 parliamentary elections in Lezhë district, rejecting calls for annulment and repeat elections throughout the district.

Similarly, the court found no legal basis or evidence to support DP claims to invalidate the May 11 elections in the Gjirokastër district and rejected demands for new elections there.

The College also dismissed challenges concerning Kukës district elections, rejecting requests to annul and re-run the vote in that area.

In addition, the opposition’s petition to declare the May 11 elections invalid in Korçë district and order repeat elections was likewise rejected.

These decisions reaffirm the validity of the electoral process in the four districts and uphold the official election results announced by the Central Election Commission.

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The Secretary for Legal Affairs at the Reestablishment Commission, Ivi Kaso deklaroi said in a statement on Saturday that “the Electoral College has decided to act as a firing squad and not as a panel of judges by denying the opposition to elect its leader of the opposition coalition in the May 14 local polls.”

“The opposition appeal against the KAS decision was overturned, turning the justice institutions from guardians of check and balance into guardians of the whims of the government. The flagrant infringement on the rights of an electoral and political coalition to freely appoint the leader of the campaign is a decision that echoes from the catacombs in the years 45-48, when Enver Hoxha’s courts killed through bloody decrees every bit of pluralism in our country,” Kaso said in a press statement.

A day ago, the Electoral College rejected an appeal filed by the Together We Win Coalition to replace the name of the coalition head with former PM Sali Berisha on the ballot papers for the mayoral and city council candidates in the 61 municipalities across the country.

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The Election Commissioner sent an official letter to the Electoral College, urging the institution to decide about the complaints, saying any delay could hamper the process of producing the ballot papers for the May 14 mayoral elections in Albania.

“Respecting your impartiality in decision-making and without infringing the independence of the Electoral College, we request accelerated examination of the appeals of electoral subjects or candidates  against the decisions of the Appeals and Sanctions Commission regarding the ballot papers. We expect the complaints to be examined and a decision be made within 24 hours  in order that any delays in producing the ballot papers are avoided,” Celibashi said in his letter.

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In his remarks, Kaso guaranteed that, the battle will continue as long as there is a Court where the opposition complains and the mission for transparency remains unchanged.

“Unfortunately a negative decision-making today regarding the complaint of the coalition led by Democratic Party, but an unfortunate decision with regard to the transparency of the elections. There was a long debate about the necessity of administering evidence. I regret to say that it is a lost opportunity, but we are not discouraged. Any kind of violation of the law which has influenced and distorted the will of the voters has become known, Albanians could not vote freely and express themselves freely through vote. I have said before, we owe transparency not only to those who trusted us,” he said.

“The electoral process must be free from all negative phenomena. The obligation to provide  transparency continues to be unchanged, as long as we have a court to appeal, we will go to the end to shed light on any kind of violation,” Kaso said. //a.i/