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Next Elections
At Crossroads
21.07.2006
Considering
the fact that, according to item 8 of article 7 of the
Electoral Code, "Elections for local government bodies
are held 60 to 30 days before the expiration of the
mandate of existing local government bodies…", and,
considering the expiration of their mandate, elections
for local government bodies should be held between the
period December 20, 2006 and January 20, 2007.
The
Albanian Helsinki Committee notes with concern that:
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The
Parliamentary Commission set up specifically for
electoral reform appears to remain a formal
structure. No step forward whatsoever has been taken
to discuss those issues, which it was established to
resolve, upon decision of the Assembly of Albania.
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No OSCE/ODIHR
recommendation for improvements to the Electoral
Code has been addressed.
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Although
legal deadlines have been passed, constitutional
institutions are delaying filling vacancies in the
Central Election Commission (CEC).
We find that
this situation is a consequence of the lack of will on
the part of the two largest parliamentary forces to find
necessary consensus to carry out electoral reform.
The Albanian
Helsinki Committee considers this situation very serious
and very troubling. Because of these intolerable delays,
the conduct of elections within legal deadlines is being
questioned, thus endangering guarantees that they will
be conducted in keeping to international standards, that
is, free, fair, democratic, and uncontested.
The situation
becomes even more troubling considering that soon,
according to constitutional provisions, the Assembly
goes into recess and resumes work in the first days of
September 2006. The AHC notes that no positive signals
have been exchanged by the two largest parliamentary
parties to overcome this situation, the consequences of
which may have a negative impact on the process of
Stabilization Association Agreement by European Union
member countries.
Among other
things, this marked delay makes it impossible to respect
legal deadlines established by the Electoral Code
regarding the preparation and posting of voters' lists,
setting up Voting Center Election Commissions, etc.
The AHC is
concerned because failing to take into consideration
OSCE/ODIHR recommendations may create the terrain for
grievances and contestations during the electoral
process or about its results by one political side or
the other.
Regarding
the above, the AHC:
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Calls
upon all political parties, mainly the two large
parties, to reach compromise on a consensual
resolution of raised or contested issues.
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Appeals
to the President of the Republic, pursuant to his
constitutional competences, to influence the
immediate overcoming of this situation, at the same
time requesting constitutional institutions to
fulfill without further delay the legal obligation
to fulfill CEC vacancies.
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Suggests
to the OSCE Presence in Tirana, in keeping with its
mission, to encourage the spirit of constructive
discussion between the parties, aiming at the
conduct of electoral reform in conformity with
international standards and OSCE/ODIHR
recommendations.
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