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ELECTIONS
LOCAL GOVERMMENT ELECTIONS 18
FEBRUARY 2007
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Electoral code should be respected
14.02.2007
Newspapers “Tema” and “Shekulli”, of February
14, 2007, published two kinds of opinion polls.
The first one showed Mr. Olldashi winning 55.1%
of the vote, whereas Mr. Rama 44.9% of the vote.
The second one shows Rama winning 60% of the
vote and Mr. Olldashi 40% of the vote. Both
above publications run against requirements of
article 134 of the Electoral Code that says,
"Election opinion poll results may not be
published during the five last days before the
election date"... |
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Report on the first round of monitoring the
pre-electoral process for the local elections of
february 18, 2007
13.02.2007
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) is engaged
in monitoring the progress of the pre-electio
process in some electoral areas of
municipalities in Tiranė, Gjirokastėr, Fier,
Durrės, Elbasan, Shkodėr, Vlorė, and Korēė, and
of communes of Dropullit, Cepos and Odries,
Belsh, Cėrrik, Shirgjan, Bradashesh, Labinot
Fushė, Drenovė, Gjergjan, Spitallė and Shkozet.
The object of this monitoring included:
announcement of the preliminary and final voter
lists according to the deadline defined by law,
their posting in public areas,...
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Prevent Incidents. Rigorously Abide By the Law
12.02.2007
We are six days away from the
February 18 elections and election campaign
incidents persist. The Albanian Helsinki
Committee is of the opinion that the irritated
atmosphere has urged and encouraged to some
extent, even indirectly, extreme militantism by
certain persons or groups. In a number of cases,
the campaign has been accompanied by hate speech
that candidates or political party
representatives use toward their political
opponents. |
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Delayed
establishment of voting center commissions may
harm the citizens’ right to vote
05.02.2007
According
to article 45 of the Electoral Code, Voting
Center Commissions (VCCs) should be appointed by
the LGECs no later than 10 days before the
election date, that is, no later than February
8, 2007. We are three days away from the expiry
of the deadline for meeting this legal
requirement. LGECs are awaiting respective
political party proposals. On the other hand,
VCC members should meet the conditions and
criteria specified in the Electoral Code. |
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Appel to voters! Preliminary and final
voter lists may differ
02.02.2007
The Albanian Helsinki Committee
calls upon all voters to acquaint themselves
with both the preliminary voter lists that will
remain posted until February 6, 2007, and with
the final voter lists that will be announced on
February 7, 2007, in order to exercise their
constitutional right to vote in the Elections
for Local Government Bodies to be held on
February 18, 2007. |
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Parties
and their candidates should implement the Electoral Code
and the Code of Conduct
30.01.2007
Monitoring organizations for the
observation of the Code of Conduct for the local
government bodies elections of February 18, 2007,
initiated by the President of the Republic and accepted
by political parties participating in these elections,
have monitored respect for some aspects of the Code of
Conduct and the Electoral Code from the start of the
electoral campaign. They find that from the start of the
campaign, the harsh language and violation of the
candidates’ private life were noticeable. |
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Pres
release-
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), has monitored and
will continue to monitor periodic elections in Albania
24.01.2007
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC),
the first non-governmetn (non-profit) organization in
Albania, has monitored and will continue to monitor
periodic elections in Albania. The purpose of monitoring
elections for the February 18, 2007 local government
elections is to contribute to respect for the free vote
of voters, the conduct of free, fair, and democratic
elections, and to the further improvement of electoral
reform in the spirit of international documents.
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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.
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AHC applauds the signing of the agreement between the
majority and the opposition thus overcoming the
electoral crisis, which has serious consequences
13.01.2007
AHC applauds the signing of the agreement
between the majority and the opposition thus overcoming
the electoral crisis, which has serious consequences.
This agreement, although very belated, showed that even
difficult issues involving major interests can only be
resolved through constructive dialogue. AHC applauds on
this occasion the persistence, patience, and high
responsibility of the President of the Republic for his
special contribution to achieving this agreement.
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Appeal
To all political parties in Albania and their candidates
for mayors or commune chairpersons
19.01.2007
We, the signatories of this appeal,
applaud the solution of the political crisis that had
engulfed the country, the improvement of the political
atmosphere that threatened the holding of local
elections in the country and Albania's image in thw
world. Elections for local government bodies
will be held on February 18, 2007. The electoral
campaign, although not yet official, has really started. |
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Delays
are Disturbing
19.01.2007
The Albanian Helsinki Committee joins in
on the concern of the Central Election Commission that,
as a result of failure by respective political parties
to submit proposals for Local Government Election
Commission members, these commissions will end up being
set up late, thus violating article 2 of the amended
article 181/1 of the Electoral Code that says: "The CEC
approves the makeup of the LGECs within 7 days from the
date this law goes into effect."
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