According to Tabaku, the meeting focused on the challenges our country faces in the electoral processes.

“Italy, a friendly country and close partner of Albania since the fall of communism, has closely followed our democratic developments,” Tabaku wrote on social media.

According to her, reports from OSCE/ODIHR, Transparency International, Freedom House, and the U.S. Department of State clearly indicate that elections in the country are being severely undermined by several factors.

Tabaku listed vote buying and pressure on voters, the misuse of state resources, the influence of organized crime, manipulation of electoral lists, family voting, media polarization, and disinformation.

“It is time for these serious issues to be addressed with responsibility and determination, in order to restore citizens’ trust in democracy,” she concluded.

/sm/