The former United States Ambassador to Tirana, John Withers, expressed
his concerns about the Albanian elections during an interview on the
Voice of America.
“I remain concerned for two reasons: first, for the administration and the proceeding of the elections. I think that in a politicized environment like that of Albania, when a party not only runs the elections, but also controls their development and administration, there is a deep conflict of interest”, he declared.
One of his concerns is the election administration.
“Many things. The Central Election Commission is one of them. What happened with the Central Election Commission I can call an administrative coup. It was against the law, the electoral code, and it was beyond the responsibilities of the Parliament to do this”, the former Ambassador stated.
As for the voters’ list, Withers says that this was left on the hands of an Interior Ministry that has too many politicized employees, what puts their fairness in question.
“If we leave aside the way how it happened, the conclusion was the same balance of forces, as in the beginning, four members for one side and three for another side. What is a coup here?”
“Because you cannot change the rules in the middle of the game. I’m not the only one believing that this was an illegal move. Practically, everyone in the international community who has analyzed what happened, is of the same opinion on this. If the ruling party would have realized its claim in a legal and ethical way, so that the Central Election Commission could be reorganized, it would be another story. But interfering with the Parliament, despite the remarks of the other party that runs in the elections, you cannot call this anything else than securing political advantage”, Withers declared.
Referring to the recent debates on the media about the visit in Tirana of the Director for Balkan at the US State Department, Jonathan Moore, and the official position held by Washington, Withers says that the United States government has only one policy. He calls lobbying as an undetached part of the United States policy. They try to affect the lawmakers, but they are not lawmakers, according to the former ambassador. Withers speaks about their interference, but adds that in many cases they have failed to succeed.
“The most important thing is that Podesta doesn’t have voting rights in Albania. Only the Albanian voters can vote, and for as long they go to the voting center and doesn’t accept to be scared, then in the end, they will decide”, Withers declared.
John Withers concluded his interview with an appeal addressed to the Albanian voters.
“I encourage every single Albanian to vote. Vote in such numbers, that any manipulation effort can fail from their right to vote”, Withers added.
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