In his final event as Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, on 7 December 2023, Ambassador Bruce Berton hosted a special meeting of the International Election Working Group with the Heads of Missions from OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania. The meeting focused on sharing insights of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations from the Final Report on 14 May 2023 local elections and the recent follow-up visit in Tirana. Additionally, the discussions covered the latest efforts related to electoral reform and the need for continued progress in this regard.
"It is my hope that the leaders and representatives of the various political parties and groups will rise above their partisan divisions and interests, taking concrete steps toward meaningful reform," Ambassador Berton said. "The Assembly's decision on the establishment and functioning of the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on Electoral Reform defines the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations as the main guideline for electoral reform. The recommendations are directed at a wide range of stakeholders, including political actors, the Central Election Commission, state authorities, public institutions, and others, each responsible for playing their part."
While stressing that all recommendations are important and deserving of attention, Ambassador Berton highlighted three major areas that require particular consideration:
• A thorough and swift investigation of allegations of serious electoral violations, such as vote-buying, voter pressure, and the abuse of state resources for electoral gain, combined with raising awareness of these negative phenomena;
• Ensuring the secrecy of the vote through effective procedural safeguards enforced by responsible authorities to prevent voter intimidation, group and proxy voting, etc.;
• Addressing issues related to the role of the media in elections, particularly avoiding or at least limiting the use of materials produced by parties/state authorities in news and promoting an independent and genuinely diverse media environment that is free from political/corporate influence, as well as limiting the concentration of media ownership.
Participants expressed full support for the OSCE's work on electoral assistance, and emphasized the importance of properly addressing all outstanding OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, and encouraged political actors and election stakeholders to engage in a meaningful, inclusive, and timely electoral reform process.
The International Election Working Group is a forum initiated by the OSCE Presence in Albania, meeting periodically to exchange information and co-ordinate stances and assistance on electoral issues.
