PRESS RELEASE
The Coalition for Reforms, Integration and Consolidated Institutions published on 10 September 2020, the STATEMENT “The incumbent CEC to complete the process of controlling the finances of political parties during the election campaign of June 30, 2019”.
Through it, it is highlighted that with the decree of the election date by the President of the Republic, the government in the country has been placed in electoral regime, while the reform of the electoral legal framework and the appointment of the new CEC membership remain unfinished by the legislator .
KRIIK, among other things, brings to the attention of political actors the need to start a “new stage” of the functioning of the institution of the Central Election Commission (CEC), building a more appropriate legal and institutional ground for a functionality with full and effective integrity of the New CEC in the preparation of the next electoral process of April 25, 2021.
In this regard, all actors responsible are encouraged to pay attention to the need for a new spirit and experience of law enforcement, without any compromise or equivoque, from and towards political parties. This spirit, especially with regard to party financing, must put an end to one of the hotbeds of impunity and lack of law enforcement.
KRIIK states that the Central Election Commission was expected to make a decision on the audit and control process carried out for the election campaign of June 30, 2019, which was postponed due to the health emergency situation in the period March – June 2020.
This decision it was stated that it was ready to be taken as soon as the State of Natural Disaster was closed, but so far it has not been carried out by the current CEC, although the latter has thus far held several public meetings and it continues to be in office until the new CEC members are elected and sworn in.
In such a context, the developments are showing an “abdication” from the legal obligation of the outgoing CEC membership. This withdrawal would further aggravate the individual and collegial responsibility of its members, while also placing excessive burden on the new CEC, that is expected to be constituted.
KRIIK expresses the concern that the likelihood is towards a violation of the process of control of financial activity for the process of June 30, 2019. This expectation, continuing an anti legal performance of the CEC institution, sets the most negative starting point for its resizing. Especially in a context in which the control of funding and financial resources that may come from illegal or criminal activities constitute a real challenge to the democratic progress of the country, in the face of the challenges of preventing power capture or, most importantly, state capture.
Through this Statement, KRIIK calls on all political and institutional actors, as well as the current CEC members that the process of controlling the financial activity of political parties during the election campaign of June 30, 2019 should conclude in a legal process.
Only such an approach, which concludes with a completely legal and institutional behavior, will help start with integrity not only the work and functioning of the new institution of the Central Election Commission, but also a “new stage” in the administration of future electoral processes.
The full document in .pdf format can be downloaded HERE.
Tirana, on September 10, 2020!
*This Press Release is published in Albanian and in English.
The Albanian version is the only official document