OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for parliamentary elections in Albania
TIRANA, 15 May 2015 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission to monitor the 23 June parliamentary elections in Albania.
ODIHR was invited by the government of Albania to observe the elections.
The mission is headed by Conny McCormack and consists of 15 international experts based in Tirana and 30 long-term observers to be deployed throughout the country. The experts and observers are drawn from 14 countries. In addition, ODIHR will request 400 short-term observers to monitor election day proceedings and the counting process.
The mission will assess the parliamentary elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with domestic legislation. Observers will follow campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, the implementation of the legislative framework and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.
In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from relevant authorities, political parties and with candidates, as well as with representatives from civil society, the media and the international community. On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results at all levels.
A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the election process.
The OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Presence in Albania operate separately under their specific mandates.
For further information please see:
//www.osce.org/odihr/elections/101355
or contact Giuseppe Milazzo, Media Analyst, ODIHR Election Observation Mission on +355 69 736 4942, or at giuseppe.milazzo@odihr.al; or Thomas Rymer, ODIHR Spokesperson, on + 48 609 522 266 or thomas.rymer@odihr.pl