Albania’s May 11 parliamentary election was competitive and generally well-managed, international observers said Monday, but noted concerns over the misuse of state resources during the campaign.
In their preliminary findings, observers from the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) commended the authorities for organizing voting from abroad for the first time and ensuring candidates had broad access to campaign freely.
“This election marks a significant milestone following recent electoral reforms and the introduction of diaspora voting,” said Lamberto Zannier, head of the ODIHR mission. “However, previous ODIHR recommendations remain largely unaddressed.”
Observers reported that election day was calm and transparent, with voting proceeding regularly in most polling stations. Still, procedural shortcomings were noted in several locations, and ODIHR highlighted instances of public resource abuse during the campaign.
Farah Karimi, head of the OSCE’s short-term observation mission, said the legal and institutional framework enabled a well-run vote but criticized the lack of meaningful debate. “Voters were not offered a genuine exchange of political ideas,” she said.
The mission deployed 365 observers from 47 countries. The election determined the makeup of Albania’s 140-seat parliament, with over 3.7 million citizens eligible to vote, including diaspora voters for the first time.
