Albania’s parliamentary elections were competitive and professionally administered, with authorities successfully enabling diaspora voting for the first time, international observers said on Monday. However, the process was marred by the misuse of public resources, voter intimidation, and uneven campaign conditions that favoured the ruling party.
In a joint statement, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), and the European Parliament said that while the legal and institutional frameworks supported the technical conduct of the vote, significant issues persisted.
“The elections were efficiently organised and demonstrated Albania’s democratic capacity, but voters were deprived of a fair contest,” said Farah Karimi, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term observation mission. “Campaigns were dominated by personal attacks rather than policy debate, deepening public cynicism.”
Roughly 3.7 million Albanians were registered to vote, including nearly 250,000 abroad. The inclusion of diaspora voters and the use of biometric and electronic voting systems marked notable progress, observers said. Still, concerns over intimidation, political interference, and procedural inconsistencies on election day were reported.
Simone Billi, head of the PACE delegation, praised the coordination between key institutions, including SPAK (the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organised Crime), the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Central Election Commission (CEC). He called the introduction of diaspora voting a “milestone,” but noted that Albania’s political culture still required reform to build trust in institutions.
The campaign environment was polarised and confrontational. Observers reported that senior government officials frequently blurred the line between official duties and campaigning, using public events to promote party messages and announce benefits and infrastructure projects, effectively granting the ruling party an electoral advantage.
Björn Söder, leading the OSCE PA delegation, said that while diaspora inclusion was commendable, many prior recommendations remain unimplemented. “Greater adherence to international standards is essential to bolster trust in the democratic process,” he added.
Media freedom was also a concern. The observation mission cited non-transparent ownership, editorial interference, and self-censorship, all of which undermined journalistic independence and limited the public’s access to balanced information. Monitoring showed that media coverage was dominated by the two largest political parties.
Michael Gahler, head of the European Parliament delegation, noted Albania’s broad commitment to EU integration but said democratic standards must be upheld throughout the electoral cycle. “Elections are not just about a smooth voting day,” he said. “They must also be preceded by a fair campaign and inclusive rules.”
The Central Election Commission adjudicated complaints in a transparent manner, but its narrow interpretation of rules concerning public resources meant abuses often went unpunished. Meanwhile, SPAK’s investigative role and inter-agency coordination were seen as positive developments.
“These elections were well organised, but the environment was tainted by systemic misuse of state power and voter pressure,” said Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, who led the ODIHR observation mission. “Such practices jeopardise recent democratic gains and could undermine Albania’s long-term aspirations.”
The international mission deployed 365 observers from 47 countries, including 238 ODIHR experts, 97 representatives from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 22 from PACE, and 12 from the European Parliament.