OSCE Albania Head welcomes approval of Electoral Code amendments
(Joana Karapataqi/OSCE)Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, being interviewed by the national TV broadcaster Arberia, Tirana, 18 June 2003. (Joana Karapataqi/OSCE) Photo details
TIRANA, 20 June 2003 - The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania has warmly welcomed the approval on 19 June of amendments to the Electoral Code by the Assembly of the Republic of Albania, with 94 votes in favour, ten more than required by the Constitution.
"The Assembly's approval of the amendments to the Electoral Code with consensus shows political will to meet the standards and requirements for the integration in the EU," said Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, Head of the OSCE Presence.
"The approval was a big step forward not only for parliamentary democracy, but also for the democratization of political life in Albania," Ambassador Lipponen added. "The OSCE Presence in Albania commends this consensual development, the Bipartisan Committee and its co-chairs for their dedication to the process."
The amendments address issues related to the electoral system (one-round voting), political balancing of representation in election commissions at all levels, new criteria for establishing zone boundaries, coalitions, role of state organs and police during electoral process, voters lists, media coverage of the electoral process and other issues, most of which were raised in the ODIHR Final Report on 2001 parliamentary elections.
The OSCE/ODIHR provided technical assistance to the work of the Bipartisan Committee on Electoral Reform. Expert comments were also provided on the separate texts proposed jointly by the Socialist and Democratic parties, however, the Assembly's assessment was not to include them in the final text.
"The Assembly's approval of the amendments to the Electoral Code with consensus shows political will to meet the standards and requirements for the integration in the EU," said Ambassador Osmo Lipponen, Head of the OSCE Presence.
"The approval was a big step forward not only for parliamentary democracy, but also for the democratization of political life in Albania," Ambassador Lipponen added. "The OSCE Presence in Albania commends this consensual development, the Bipartisan Committee and its co-chairs for their dedication to the process."
The amendments address issues related to the electoral system (one-round voting), political balancing of representation in election commissions at all levels, new criteria for establishing zone boundaries, coalitions, role of state organs and police during electoral process, voters lists, media coverage of the electoral process and other issues, most of which were raised in the ODIHR Final Report on 2001 parliamentary elections.
The OSCE/ODIHR provided technical assistance to the work of the Bipartisan Committee on Electoral Reform. Expert comments were also provided on the separate texts proposed jointly by the Socialist and Democratic parties, however, the Assembly's assessment was not to include them in the final text.