Strasbourg, May 10, 2011, NOA - Delegation of four Members of the European Parliament, led by Mr Eduard Kukan (EPP, SK) and including Ms Jutta Steinruck (S&D, DE), Mr Georgios Koumoutsakos (EPP, EL) and Mr Michail Tremopoulos (Greens/EFA, EL), travelled to Albania on the occasion of the local elections. The purpose of the Delegation was to assess the political situation in the country around Election Day.
The Delegation held meetings with those involved in the electoral process, including the OSCE/ODIHR, the Central Election Commission, the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of the Prime Minister, Opposition leaders, the Head of the EU Delegation as well as other representatives of the diplomatic community, as well as media and civil society representatives. They also held exchanges of views with the Observers from the COE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Committee of the Regions. Members felt that the political scene remains highly polarised, which is also reflected on how the media covered the electoral process.
On Election Day, the Delegation visited over 35 polling stations in Tirana, Kavaje, Elbasan, Fier, Himare, Ilias, Gjilek and Vlora, as well as a Counting Centre in Vlora and the Central Electoral Committee situation room.
Members noted that, in the polling stations they visited, the process was generally orderly and managed in a peaceful manner. The Delegation noted the presence of observers from political parties in most polling stations and welcomed that of civil society observers in some. Family voting, delays in opening and confusion at closing time were observed in a number of stations. Very long queues of voters waiting were observed in many of the polling stations visited. Furthermore, the fact that counting had been centralised was questioned in some of the communities visited. Members were informed also of delays in the counting procedure.
In conclusion, the Delegation felt that, while the elections had taken place in an orderly and peaceful manner, a number of significant improvements, including and especially those highlighted by the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission, would further enhance the integrity of the electoral process. Furthermore, it is to be noted that all the Albanian interlocutors welcomed the presence of the European Parliament and found its contribution to the elections' observation very positive. In this respect, the Delegation believes that the presence of international community observers is useful and essential. The Delegation now calls on all sides to act responsibly and to ensure that, after the elections, work on democratic reforms resumes.
e.t/NOA
