Albanian second round election confirms progress in some areas, but problems remain
(Jens Eschenbaecher/OSCE)Albanian citizens marking ballots during the parliamentary
elections, 24 June 2001. (Jens Eschenbaecher/OSCE) Photo details
TIRANA, 9 July 2001 (OSCE) - Yesterday's second round of the Albanian parliamentary elections confirmed progress towards international standards for democratic elections in a number of important areas, but problems remain, concluded the International Election Observation Mission in a preliminary statement issued today.
"Looking at the election as a whole, we can say there has been progress in the areas of election administration, media and campaign conduct", said Nikolai Vulchanov, Head of the Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "However, problems remain which show that further substantial improvements are needed to fully meet international standards for democratic elections."
"The political parties deserve credit for their restraint during the campaign and for seeking redress on contentious issues and irregularities through the available institutional framework for complaints", said Jerzy Smorawinski, Head of the delegation of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.
On second round election day, 8 July, most polling stations functioned well and generally voting proceeded without incident. However, the international observers reported a number of serious concerns, including isolated cases of police interference, detentions of election commission members, and ballot stuffing. Voting could not take place in a number of electoral zones due to disruption of preparations by election commission members. Elsewhere, the counting was completed quickly, but technical procedures were frequently not followed correctly.
The international observers have reported a number of irregularities stemming from the first round elections, in particular in some hotly disputed constituencies. In these constituencies, conflicting counting protocols raised concerns about the accuracy of the results. To date, the relevant election commissions and courts have failed to adequately investigate questionable protocols and other alleged irregularities in these constituencies. Isolated but significant incidents of abuse of power and interference by police in the election process in favour of candidates of the ruling party have been confirmed.
"These irregularities must be fully investigated and addressed by the authorities", said Mr. Vulchanov. "The final assessment of these elections will depend on how this is carried out by the relevant national institutions as well as on the remaining steps of the post-election process, including the tabulation of results, the allocation of compensatory mandates, and the conduct of further rounds of voting."
The International Election Observation Mission for the second round of the parliamentary elections in Albania is a joint undertaking of the ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. An OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission with 10 election experts in the Tirana headquarters and 18 long-term observers deployed to the regions was established in late May to assess the legal framework, the election administration, the media environment, and conditions for the election campaign. For election day, the International Election Observation Mission has deployed some 130 short-term observers, including eight parliamentarians from the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly to monitor voting and counting procedures in polling stations and election commissions across Albania.
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For further information, please contact Nikolai Vulchanov, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission in Tirana, +(355-4) 230 979, 232 523, 232 524, 232 525; or Jens-Hagen Eschenbaecher, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, +48-603 683 122 (mobile); or Christine Meunier/Farida Jamal, Council of Europe, +(33) 3 88 41 20 90.
"Looking at the election as a whole, we can say there has been progress in the areas of election administration, media and campaign conduct", said Nikolai Vulchanov, Head of the Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "However, problems remain which show that further substantial improvements are needed to fully meet international standards for democratic elections."
"The political parties deserve credit for their restraint during the campaign and for seeking redress on contentious issues and irregularities through the available institutional framework for complaints", said Jerzy Smorawinski, Head of the delegation of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.
On second round election day, 8 July, most polling stations functioned well and generally voting proceeded without incident. However, the international observers reported a number of serious concerns, including isolated cases of police interference, detentions of election commission members, and ballot stuffing. Voting could not take place in a number of electoral zones due to disruption of preparations by election commission members. Elsewhere, the counting was completed quickly, but technical procedures were frequently not followed correctly.
The international observers have reported a number of irregularities stemming from the first round elections, in particular in some hotly disputed constituencies. In these constituencies, conflicting counting protocols raised concerns about the accuracy of the results. To date, the relevant election commissions and courts have failed to adequately investigate questionable protocols and other alleged irregularities in these constituencies. Isolated but significant incidents of abuse of power and interference by police in the election process in favour of candidates of the ruling party have been confirmed.
"These irregularities must be fully investigated and addressed by the authorities", said Mr. Vulchanov. "The final assessment of these elections will depend on how this is carried out by the relevant national institutions as well as on the remaining steps of the post-election process, including the tabulation of results, the allocation of compensatory mandates, and the conduct of further rounds of voting."
The International Election Observation Mission for the second round of the parliamentary elections in Albania is a joint undertaking of the ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. An OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission with 10 election experts in the Tirana headquarters and 18 long-term observers deployed to the regions was established in late May to assess the legal framework, the election administration, the media environment, and conditions for the election campaign. For election day, the International Election Observation Mission has deployed some 130 short-term observers, including eight parliamentarians from the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly to monitor voting and counting procedures in polling stations and election commissions across Albania.
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For further information, please contact Nikolai Vulchanov, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission in Tirana, +(355-4) 230 979, 232 523, 232 524, 232 525; or Jens-Hagen Eschenbaecher, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, +48-603 683 122 (mobile); or Christine Meunier/Farida Jamal, Council of Europe, +(33) 3 88 41 20 90.