Improvement of the Electoral Code and its

  Observance is an indispensability

25.11.2003
Albanian Helsinki Committee, as a non-governmental and non-profit organization of human rights, member of the International Helsinki Committee has as its own mission the observance of citizens rights and freedoms and contribution to the improvement of the legislation and the practices of the observance of freedoms and rights on the part of the different state institutions. This Committee has been committed in the monitoring of the electoral processes held over these years. With the aim of observing the local government bodies elections held on October, 12 2003, AHC recruited 106 long-term observers.

Immediately after the conclusion of the elections, AHC produced the preliminary reports about some specific aspects of the electoral process. Soon, AHC is publishing a final report about the local government bodies elections of October, 12 2003.

While assessing the significance of the Electoral Code and the political will in its implementation as well as the problems identified during the monitoring of the elections  for the local government bodies of October, 12.  2003, with the aim of contributing to the improvement of the conduct of the electoral processes in Albania, on November 22, 2003, AHC arranged a round table with experts on the legal and constitutional field as well as representatives of the civil society committed to monitoring the electoral process in Albania.

  In this meeting opinions were exchanged regarding some important issues of the Electoral Code and its application in practice, about its limitations and inaccuracies in special provisions of the Code as well as regarding the need for further improvement of the electoral legislation aiming at holding fair and democratic and uncontestable elections from all the political parties.

The participants in this meeting shared different but helpful opinions, related to the necessary improvements of the Electoral Code, discussions and opinions were exchanged about such problems like the organization and operation of the electoral commissions, the criteria met by the members of the electoral commissions of the local government and those of the polling stations, preliminary lists and the role of the political parties in changing the lists with the aim of avoiding gaps witnessed in the elections of October 12 2003.

Participants in the table highlighted the need for rigorous implementation of the Electoral Code and other laws both by the electoral commission members, state bodies and political subjects. They also highlighted the need for  strengthening  CEC role in the administration of the electoral process in Albania.

AHC and its partners will consistently keep on contributing  to upgrading the legislation and the electoral processes in Albania by monitoring not only the violations of the citizens rights in this aspect, but also by promoting the spirit of observing the law, and the overall citizens rights and freedoms.

For further information about the discussions and the conclusions of this table of experts you are kindly asked to contact AHC office in the following address:

 

Komiteti Shqiptar i Helsinkit

Rr: Sami Frashëri. Pall. 20/1,
Hyrja B, Ap. 21,
Tiranë,
Kutia postare Nr.1752

Tel/fax:  ++ 355 (0) 4 233671