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Well-mannered
campaign. No to hate speech. No to violating human
dignity and the right of privacy
22.01. 2007
The Albanian Helsinki Committee and some
other non-government organizations, engaged in the area
of respect for citizens freedoms and rights, as in
previous elections, on the eve of the upcoming local
government elections, have appealed to political parties
to conduct a well-mannered, lawful, and excess-free
campaign.
The President of the Republic of Albania,
a few days ago, proposed to political parties to sign a
Code of Conduct for the election campaign. This Code,
among other things, emphasizes that: “political parties
should respect the Electoral Code…”, that “Political
parties and candidates shall not publicize or launch
slandering or irritating accusations about parties,
candidates, or other persons…”.
Representatives of the DP, SP, DCP, SMI,
NDP and other parties spoke immediately in support of
this proposal.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee regrets
that the DP leader, at the official opening of the
electoral campaign on January 20, 2007, referring to the
SP leader and candidate for Tirana Mayor, visibly
crossed the limits of criticism toward the political
opponent, using insulting words accompanied with
epithets that affect the dignity of the person and
violate the right to privacy.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee considers
the use of such language between political opponents
unacceptable, incompatible with any human ethics, and
the Code of Conduct that should be observed during
electoral campaigns.
Electoral subjects, pursuant to article
133 of the Electoral Code, are obliged to conduct their
electoral propaganda in a lawful fashion.
We consider it necessary to also mention
that article 35 of our Constitution and article 8 of the
European Convention on Human Rights, demand respect for
private and family life.
On this occasion, the Albanian Helsinki
Committee once again calls on political parties to avoid
smearing this or that person with accusations of a
criminal character that could be the target of review by
competent bodies only. Respect for the constitutional
principle of the presumption of innocence is obligatory
for all.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee is of the
opinion that it is not hate speech, but electoral
competition through the display of the best and most
convincing governance alternatives that is an important
indicator with a positive impact on achieving election
standards. |
