Democratic Party Chairman Lulzim Basha held a meeting with the OSCE-ODIHR observer delegation Chief for June 2017 parliamentary elections, Peter Taylor, regarding the outcome of the mission report.

The opposition leader considered the report very important, which documented the concerns raised by the opposition. The report finds serious violations that have distorted the will of Albanians, starting with the sale of the vote, the pressure on the voters, the pressure on administration and business, the massive use of the state in the service of the ruling party, the violation of the freedom and secrecy of the vote, etc.  

The report records that individuals with high criminal records played a significant role in the campaign. This was also noted during the election day on the co-operation of the criminal contingent with the ruling party staffs. The opposition chairman underlined the fact that the Italian anti-mafia intercepts confirm that the role of crime and money generated by drugs constitute the biggest problem of democracy and free elections in the country.

Basha assessed that these concerns are already priority recommendations by the OSCE / ODIHR. He said that Electoral Reform was a priority for the Democratic Party and was asked to start work immediately with the launch of the new parliamentary session. Also, delays and unwillingness on the part of the government may affect the process of drafting a comprehensive reform.

The opposition leader sought the support and expertise of the OSCE / ODIHR mission to implement the recommendations. Electoral reform should address many of the many issues of the process such as the voter list, the address system, the use of funding and individuals with criminal records, the use of power, the emigrants’ vote and above all the vote-buying

Electronic voting and counting is the demand and the prior condition of the Albanian opposition. The opposition leader said that voting and electronic counting will eliminate many of the problems. Basha said that the Democratic Party seeks firmly a comprehensive reform that not only addresses and resolves the major problems of the process, but also empower the citizens’ right to decide and limit the power of party leaders. Likewise, the establishment of an independent government institution to stop the pressure and abuse of the administration is indispensable, just as the prosecution and punishment of every case registered for the sale-purchase vote.

Basha received the support of Ambassador Tejler for full co-operation with OSCE / ODIHR, with their best experts to assist in drafting electoral reform./tvklan.al