Parliamentary Elections, 28 June 2009

Following an official invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania, ODIHR deployed an election observation mission (EOM) to observe the 28 June 2009 parliamentary elections.

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

The EOM and the OSCE Presence in Albania operated separately under their specific mandates.

Long-term observation

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), consisted of 14 international staff based in Tirana and drawn from nine OSCE participating States. Twenty-six long-term observers were deployed throughout the country on 16 May.

The mission assessed the 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 closely monitored 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

ODIHR requested the secondment of 400 short-term observers, who were deployed immediately prior to the 28 June elections. They were  deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the centralized counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, the EOM issued a statement of its preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process was issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Previous elections

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