OSCE/ODIHR report: Calm campaign, but focused on personal accusations

The international factor has noticed the accusations on government leaders and abuses with public resources, such as the distribution of legalized property titles in electoral campaigns.

The report remind that political parties can finance their campaign through public funds and private donations, or even loans, but independent candidates cannot benefit from public funds. All independent parties are asked to report the private funds they have received and the electoral campaign expense. But the law does not foresee a periodic report.

The document underlined that an independent candidate published on his website the details of the donations and asked the other candidates to do the same thing.

As for the registration of candidates, some observeers have expressed their concern that the contradictory implementation and interpretation of the registration rule obstructs candidates from exerting their right to be part of the elections.

The report says that the report of one of the Central Election Commission for a sudden increased number of voters in two areas of Durres and Kavaja, there are investigations undergoing by the local Prosecution offices.

The observers expressed their concern about the political decisions of the CEC. They say that the public administration remains vulnerable to political pressure and has no complete credibility. The report notes that the decisions of the CEC are not always published within the deadline.

The report adds that the political connections with the media and the lack of independent sources cause auto-censorship.

The influence of political parties limits the space for other less politicized matters which have more interest for the public.

The legal structure for the media guarantees freedom of speech, but the report expresses concern about its implementation, which, they say, is undermined by the politicization of the Audiovisual Media Authority, AMA, and the leadership of the public television RTSH.

The document says that some OSCE/ODIHR recommendations have not been resolved, such as the increased impartiality of the Electoral Commission or the Transparency of the Campaign.

It adds that the electoral code has gaps and procedural discrepancies.

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