“COSTS OF DEMOCRACY – II; Money in politics and electoral integrity”
N A T I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E
Hotel Rogner Tirana and remotely (via ZOOM)
29 January 2021
On 29 January 2021 KRIIK held the National Conference “COSTS OF DEMOCRACY – II; Money in politics and electoral integrity”.
The Conference brought into the table of discussion the main political and institutional actors, as well as representatives of the most important foreign representations in the country. The party representatives discussed and expressed their political will on the need for electoral integrity, with special emphasis on party and campaign finance, as one of the key aspects of electoral integrity, with the long term aim to include their regulation in the focus of the expected electoral reform, after the next elections.
Find below the agenda of the event and the speeches of each speaker.
A G E N D A
Reference points:
– Political will of the political actors to address the Electoral Integrity and especially the regulation of political finance in continuity as a core element of it;
– Remarks and perspectives from diplomatic presences of key strategic partners on election integrity and importance of addressing shortcomings on party finance transparency;
– Institutional efforts and needs to implement the spirit of 5 June 2020 Political Agreement and the new amendments of Electoral Code;
– Challenges for supervision of campaign finance of electoral subject and candidates in the upcoming electoral process;
– Challenges and needs of the Central Election Commission (CEC) about the upcoming electoral process;
– Integrity of the upcoming electoral process, the transparency of political finance and role of the citizen observer groups;
– International support for domestic citizen observer groups as support for the transparency of the political processes and the integrity of the upcoming electoral process.
First Session
Political will to improve the Electoral Integrity and especially the legal framework that regulates party and campaign finance.
10:45 – 10:52
Opening remarks
Mr. Premto GOGO, Chairperson of the Coalition for Reforms, Integration and Consolidated Institutions (KRIIK)
10:52 – 11:08
Greetings and remarks by:
– H.E. Ms. Yuri KIM, Ambassador the United States of America to Albania
– H.E. Mr. Duncan NORMAN, Ambassador of United Kingdom to Albania
– Ms. Clarisse Pásztori, Deputy Head of Presence of OSCE in Albania
11:10 – 11:24
Role of the Central Election Commission (CEC), especially on the matter of party and campaign finance supervision; needs and opportunities.
Mr. Ilirjan CELIBASHI State Commissioner for Elections
11:25 – 11:58
Remarks by the main political stakeholders, members of the Political Council
– Mr. Taulant BALLA, General Secretary of the Socialist Party
– Mr. Ivi Kaso, Secretary for Electoral Matters of the Democratic Party
– Ms. Silva Caka, Secretary for Legal Matters of the Socialist Movement for Integration
– Ms. Rudina HAJDARI, Representative of the parliamentary opposition
12:00 – 12:08
Findings from the study conducted by KRIIK, with focus on the immediate needs for effectively supervising campaign finance for the 25 April elections.
Mr. Reald Keta, Legal Expert with KRIIK / Representative of the research group of KRIIK
Second Session
On the long-term perspective for amending the legal framework for party and campaign finance; Opportunities for a dedicated law for political finance.
12:10 – 12:40
Presentation of key findings from the study conducted by KRIIK.
Mr. Reald Keta, Legal Expert with KRIIK / Representative of the research group of KRIIK
12:40 – 13:20
Questions and remarks from attendees
13:20 – 13:30