Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Following an official invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the 28 June 2009 parliamentary elections.

The 140-member unicameral parliament will be elected under a proportional representation system in regional constituencies by the electorate of some 3.1 million voters. These elections will be conducted under a renewed legal framework, including constitutional amendments, and adoption of a revised electoral code in 2008 modifying, inter alia, the electoral system for parliamentary representation and the framework for voter registration.

The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Presence in Albania operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR conducted a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) from 16 to 19 March 2009 in order to assess conditions and preparations for the elections and to advise on the level of ODIHR involvement in the forthcoming elections. The NAM recommended that a standard election observation mission be deployed.

The EOM, headed by Ambassador Audrey Glover (United Kingdom), consists of 14 international staff based in Tirana and drawn from nine OSCE participating States. Twenty-six long-term observers are expected to arrive by 14 May and to be deployed throughout the country on 16 May.

The mission will assess this election for its compliance with the principles governing democratic electoral processes (including commitments agreed to by all the OSCE participating States), as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, media coverage, the legislative framework and its implementation, the media situation, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, and the resolution of election disputes.

Election day

The OSCE/ODIHR requested the secondment of 400 short-term observers, to be deployed immediately prior to the 28 June elections. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the centralised counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, the Election Observation Mission will issue a statement of its preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Previous elections

The ODIHR has observed a number of elections in Albania, including parliamentary elections in 2001 and 2005 and local elections in 2003 and 2007.