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ELECTORAL ISSUES/ID CARDS

EU urges peaceful elections, and encourages citizens to obtain ID documents

The EU Presidency issued the following statement on the forthcoming elections in Albania: “The elections on 28 June will be an important test of Albania's democratic maturity and readiness to move forward towards closer integration with the EU.  We, the EU, are watching the elections process closely.  It is our hope, and in Albania's interests, that these elections are peaceful and that they are judged to meet international standards.

We, the EU, urge the Government of Albania and political parties to work together to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful manner, and that all those who want to vote on 28 June are able to do so. And we encourage all Albanian citizens who wish to exercise their democratic right and to vote in these elections to make sure they have the necessary ID documents to do so.”

ODIHR criticizes Government ten days before elections

The papers report on the third OSCE/ODIHR Interim Report which covers the period 4 – 13 June 2009. According to it, while the campaign environment has mostly remained calm, there has been a rise in tension in some areas.
“Controversy has particularly revolved around the placement of posters and banners, as well as campaign stands and tents. A Democratic Party (DP) activist was killed by a Socialist Party (SP) activist on 12 June in a dispute over the placement of posters; both sides made statements calling for calm.” ODIHR points out that the Government has continued to use official events for campaign purposes. “In some cases confirmed by OSCE/ODIHR long-term observers, schools were closed so that pupils could attend such events. The OSCE/ODIHR EOM continues to receive allegations of pressure on public-sector workers.”

It underlines that many Commissions of Electoral Administration Zones
(CEAZs) are still not meeting or are meeting on an irregular basis. It says that the SP has publicly contested the accuracy of the Final Voter List, stating that it contains various types of errors. The OSCE/ODIHR EOM continues to receive reports of technical and organizational failures. “The SP is claiming selective application of the application process and of subsidies for obtaining ID cards, to the disadvantage of its supporters,”
states the report.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM media monitoring indicates that two of the five TV channels monitored gave fairly equal amounts of airtime to the DP and the SP. “However, these two and one other broadcaster continued to show bias in terms of the quality (tone) of the coverage. The members of the CEC-appointed Media Monitoring Board have voiced different views on what constitutes Government activities related to the election campaign, which under the Electoral Code should be counted towards the time allocated to the respective political party.”

“The Government has continued to use official events for campaign purposes.
Inaugurations of infrastructure projects by senior Government officials have occurred with a greater frequency than is usual outside campaign periods.
For example, the inauguration by the Prime Minister of a hydro-electric plant near Elbasan on 8 June, and of a road near Fier on 10 June, were attended by large crowds waving DP flags. The Prime Minister’s speeches were of campaign character. Schools were closed so that pupils could attend the opening of the hydro-electric plant. Schools in the Korçë area were also closed for a rally attended by DP Deputy Chairperson and Speaker of Parliament, Jozefina Topalli. The OSCE/ODIHR EOM has continued to receive allegations of pressure on public-sector workers. In an incident verified as credible, on 9 June, municipal workers were required by their superiors to attend a DP rally in Peqin (Elbasan region). During the day, the municipality office ceased working; OSCE/ODIHR EOM long-term observers were informed that the staff were engaged in preparing for the rally.”

Zogby: DP two points ahead of SP, coalitions draw

Last night the American polling company Zogby - contracted by national TV Top Channel – published its last poll before the 28 June elections, which covers the period 23 May – 10 June. According to the poll, among the people interviewed 40% said they will vote for the Democratic Party, 38% for the Socialist Party, 4% for the Socialist Movement for Integration, 2% for the G99, 8% are not yet sure and 2% refused to give an answer. The poll showed that in terms of the figures gathered for each coalition, the coalition Albania for Change and Union for Change draw with 42% each. An interesting question included in the poll was whether people had a passport or an ID Card in order to vote. About 80% of the people said that they had either a passport or an ID Card, 10% said they had neither but that they had applied to get an ID Card, 8% said that they were going to apply and 3% were not sure. About 79% of the people agreed that elections were going to be free and fair and only 17% thought the opposite. Only 37% thought that their economic situation is better off than four years ago, 30% thought they were worse off and 33% thought they situation had not changed at all.


RULE OF LAW

DCP Chair of Malësia e Madhe gets killed in car bombing

The Demo Christian Party (DCP) Chair of Malësi e Madhe, in the region of Shkodra, Aleksandër Keka was killed in a car explosion on Thursday. Keka was traveling from Koplik towards Shkodra while on the national road his car exploded and went off the road. The victim’s body was found twenty meters away from the car. The police and investigative authorities arrived immediately on the site and the first reports spoke about deep cuts and burns on the back side of the victim’s body, leaving the doubt that the explosive could have been placed under the driver’s seat on the Mitsubishi Pajero car. The authorities blocked the site for several hours. The police are still investigating and a final report is expected to show what kind of explosive it was used, where it was put in the car and how exactly it was activated.

The first reaction on the incident came from the DCP Chair, Nard Ndoka who was expecting to meet with Keka once he arrived in Shkodra. Ndoka has immediately arrived on the site and stated that this was a terrorist and political crime. Ndoka accused the Assembly Speaker Jozefina Topalli for using hatred vocabulary in the last days while campaigning in Shkodra thus urging hate among the voters in the district. “This is a terrorist act that is comes from the political language used by Topalli.That lady has been inflaming a harsh campaign against the DCP going door-to-door and insulating hatred,” said Ndoka, adding that Keka was a respected political official in Shkodra. Immediately after this, the DCP released a press statement asking the international community, the OSCE, US Embassy and other Diplomatic Corps in Tirana to urge the clear and unbiased investigations on the happening.

Only several hours after the explosion, the State Police released an official statement of the investigation group stating that the 35-year old DCP Chair of Malësi e Madhe had deceased in a car explosion. The statement accused Keka of being a suspected drug dealer and arms trafficker. “We should clarify that Aleksander Keka has been identified by local police authorities as a suspect involved in trafficking drugs, cars, and explosives,” said State Police spokesperson Klodian Branko. He did not elaborate on whether the victim was ever arrested or charged with any crime.
The first investigative reports linked the explosion to Keka’s involvement in private construction businesses and his business partner, Arben Bitani killed in a shooting last year. The police statement said that the investigations will continue.

Immediately after the Police statement, the DCP Chair Nard Ndoka immediately reacted saying that the police is controlled and pressured by politics. He said that this is an irresponsible statement from the authorities that are obliged to investigate on the happening. Ndoka emphasized the fact that Keka was a respected businessman and although he was not running as a candidate he was working on the DCP campaign in the region. Ndoka added that Keka had been continuously threatened in the last days. Similarly, Ndoka said that if the police had information on Keka’s involvement in illegal activities they could have arrested him before his death.

In related news, political forces condemned Keka’s car explosion. From Shkodra, the Assembly Speaker Jozefina Topalli said that the incident was tragic and called on all to support the prosecution, police forces and the justice authorities to work on a full investigation and find the responsible persons. Two days ago, Topalli declared in an electoral rally in Postriba that the electorate should not vote for parties like the Republican Party or Demo Christian Party. She said that these smaller parties speculate of being right wing parties but they are just a gathering of mafia people and spies.

The Socialist Party (SP) spokesperson Mimi Kodheli said on Thursday that another violent death marks the electoral campaign which is becoming more and more tensioned because of the hatred language used by the ones in power.
Criticizing the State Police statement, Kodheli called on the order and justice authorities be careful and more professional and work on the full investigation of the happening.

In related news, the Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson, Erla Mëhilli said that DP denounces the efforts SP Chair Edi Rama and DCP Chair Nard Ndoka on manipulating Keka’s death and speculating on it. Mëhilli said that DP calls on the justice authorities to properly investigate on the tragic incident.

21-year journalist violated in his office

A 21 year old journalist was violated on Thursday while he was working in the premises of Radio X in Fier. The police authorities have identified the offenders who have waited for the journalist Keidi Velçani to finish his political radio show. The offenders have entered the Radio offices and have attacked Velçani with hard objects causing him a series of fractures in the head, legs and arms. The 21 year old is the son of the local political analyst Petref Velçani who has stated that the attack has political motifs related to the political stands that he has expressed in several local TV shows in the last days of the electoral campaign. The police have identified the violators and finding operations are under way.


POLITICAL RIGHT

Berisha compares Edi Rama with Enver Hoxha

Prime Minister Berisha, during the meetings held yesterday in some neighborhoods in Tirana, compared the Socialist Party (SP) Chair Edi Rama with dictator Enver Hoxha and his model of governance in the fifties.
According to Berisha, Rama wants to be a Mayor and a Prime Minister at the same time. According to Berisha, Rama has allegedly declared that he would resign and leave the position of the Mayor to G99 Chair Erion Veliaj. He added that the reason why Rama was not included in the lists is because he wants to protect his corruptive affairs in Tirana Municipality. He invited all socialists of Boroughs 4 and 5 to vote the DP. According to him, the vote for DP will realize the dream of the European Albania. In the meeting held in Shkodra, he said that the overall value of inaugurations he made all over the country totals 600 million EUR. He inaugurated the Shkodra-Hani i Hotit road and promised that the road which connects Velipoja with Ulqin will be constructed soon. In Lezha he inaugurated the Shëngjin road and guaranteed that the entire coast infrastructure will be finalized within 2010. 


POLITICAL LEFT

Edi Rama: We will get 71 mandates

In an interview on “Ora Television” the leader of the Socialist Party Edi Rama answered a broad range of questions. Excerpts from Rama’s replies have been published in several daily newspapers. Commenting on why he did not put forward his candidature for MP, Rama replied that he had concluded a contract with the citizens of Tirana and that this contract could not be unilaterally interrupted, but required the consensus  of the other side as well, the people of the capital. He called upon the population of Tirana to “give him their vote” so he could become the Prime Minister of Albania. Rama said that if the residents of Tirana decide that I am to become their PM then another solution will have to be found for the Municipality of Tirana.
When asked about how many seats the SP will win in Parliament, Rama replied without hesitation-71. He said that the only reservation he may have is linked with the credibility and transparency of the electoral process. Rama said this is why he could not emphasize enough the importance of citizens going to pick up their ID cards.

Talking about the government’s role in the issuance of ID cards, Rama stressed that the government has failed to guarantee the process, transparency, as well as the security of this process. He said the process is characterized by confusion, unsavory episodes and an absence of guarantees. Rama underscored strongly that for the socialists the question of postponing the elections does not even arise-it is not an option. He said that the elections must take place on the constitutional date. 28 June is the date on which people must decide to break with the old politics of the past. On the question of a possible post-electoral coalition with Meta, Rama said that today we are fighting the battle to give Albania a government which will realize the commitments we are undertaking. He said that all Albanians who want change, who believe in change, who want to be a part of this change and who have the will to re-organize the state and Albania, must vote for Edi Rama.

Referring to the proposal in the SP program for a Ministry of Rural Development, Rama said that the current Ministry of Agriculture will be merged into the former. Rama said that this will mark the transition from a primitive phase of comprehending and dealing with the issues of rural areas, to a contemporary phase of understanding and dealing with the entire rural dimension. He said this ministry will manage the entire rural area and will be backed by substantial funding. On the socialists’ program for economic and financial development, after lengthy and detailed consultations with former Prime Ministers of France, Italy, Denmark, for whose contribution I am profoundly grateful, we have decided not to touch the fiscal system in the first phase of our mandate and not to raise any taxes. Speaking about the socialists’ policy on the Public Broadcaster Albanian Radio-television, Rama said that this is where one of the most profound and tangible reforms will be carried out. Rama sad this broadcaster will be given back to the public that pays for it with its taxes. Rama underlined that we will only manage to obtain autonomy of government with our own coalition.

Rama says Berisha should forget vote manipulations

Socialist Party (SP) Chair Edi Rama asked Prime Minister Sali Berisha yesterday in the meeting held in Saranda to stay away from manipulating the votes of the Albanian people. He said that there are no reasons for Saranda people to live in poverty and unemployment. According to him, the electoral campaign has become a nightmare for the government administration employees who are threatened to be dismissed from their jobs if they do not support the DP. He said that Albania needs to be freed from this old politics. Rama added that there is only one family who is governing the country and a Prime Minister who wants to do business with the country. Rama promised that in 2010 Albanians will move freely within the European Union.

Meta asks citizens to condemn closed lists

Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) Chair Ilir Meta asked the participants in the electoral meeting held in Fushë-Kruja yesterday to condemn with their vote the closed lists system which distances the MPs from the citizens. This is the reason why, according to him, by voting the SMI candidate Agim Xheka, they vote for representation in the future Assembly.
He also said that they should vote the dismissal of the most corrupted government ever in Albania adding that SMI will take the country out from the crisis and will provide employment for Fushë-Kruja citizens as well as for all Albanians. Meta guaranteed that SMI has a clear plan for the stable employment of 100 thousand Albanians. He added that SMI has also anticipated reducing the living cost, doubling the pensions within the next four years, reviving the agro-processing industry, developing the agriculture and increasing the domestic production.