The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has proposed a mission of 26 long-term observers and 300 short-term observers for Albania’s May 11 parliamentary elections. The team will monitor election-day procedures, including voting and vote counting, as part of efforts to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.
Thirty-three years after holding its first free and fair elections, Albania has yet to experience an uncontested electoral process. At times, it appears that disputing election results has become an end in itself. Refusing to acknowledge an opponent’s victory often serves as a way to avoid recognizing one’s own defeat—and with it, accountability for the loss and the consequences that entails. The opposition has lost every single election since its victory of the 2009 elections and has claimed widespread problems in every single one, despite the fact that it was in power during at least two of them.
In this context, the OSCE-ODIHR and the broader international community have assumed the role of referees, certifying elections and pressuring the losing side to accept the outcome. Their involvement underscores Albania’s ongoing struggle to establish a culture of democratic norms where the will of the voters is both respected and undisputed.
ODIHR conducted a preliminary visit to Albania from December 3 to 6. After meetings with political leaders, institutional representatives, and media outlets, the organization emphasized the importance of monitoring pre-election developments, particularly the use of state resources.
The report highlighted several key areas requiring attention, including the administration of elections, implementation of new voting technologies, campaign conduct, media and online platform coverage, campaign financing, dispute resolution, and election-day procedures.
The OSCE undertook a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) in Albania from 3 to 6 December 2024. The NAM included Ulvi Akhundlu, Deputy Head of the Electoral Department of ODIHR and Kakha Inaishvili, Electoral Adviser of ODIHR. The ODIHR NAM was joined by Sherif Abdili, Program and Administrative Officer of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
The purpose of the mission was to assess the pre-election environment and preparations for the elections. This mission recommends whether to establish an ODIHR election-related activity for the upcoming elections and, if so, what type of activity best meets the identified needs. Meetings were held with officials of state institutions and the electoral administration, as well as with representatives of political parties, media, civil society and the international community.
/Argumentum.al
