A pre-election conference with the theme “Depoliticization of Electoral Administration – The Need for Professional Electoral Administrators” was held today, organized by the Central Election Commission of Albania in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACoE), the OSCE Presence and Venice Commission.

The conference brought together representatives of the CEC administration, political parties, civil society and international experts.

The focus of the discussions was to address the challenges of electoral administration, highlighting the need for election staff who are impartial and well trained.

The State Election Commissioner, Mr. Ilirjan Celibashi, stated that considering the current political situation, political parties cannot be excluded from administration of electoral process at the second and third level. “Parties cannot be the ones and the only  bodies with absolute power in the administration of election process in its second and third level. But even the idea of ​​having an electoral administration with public officials, in my opinion, is not beneficial. A hybrid composition, where parties continue to be inherently involved in the administration of the electoral process and on the other hand, with the CEC having a greater role in building this administration, could be the right and a functional formula,” SEC Celibashi stated.

Mrs. Liri Kopaçi-Di Michele, Head of Parliamentary and Electoral Co-operation Division in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, stated that “Democracy is an ongoing journey, not a destination. By institutionalizing professional standards and protecting elections from political interference, Albania has an opportunity to strengthen not only its electoral system, but also the democratic fabric of its society. The goals we aim to achieve by working together is the one where each election officer is trained to the highest standards, every commission functions independently and every election inspires trust among citizens – building an Albania where democracy is sustainable, transparent and inclusive.”

Ambassador Tarran reiterated OSCE Presence’s commitment to support reforming efforts of Albania. He stated, among others, that: A qualified and impartial election administration guarantees that every vote is counted fairly and transparently. With election day set on May 11, 2025, it is time to support the CEC in the upcoming elections through a more professional administration.

The discussions covered topics such as the impartiality of election management bodies and international standards, with contributions from PACE, Venice Commission and  OSCE, and best practices from other countries.

The conference highlighted the importance of professional election management bodies as a cornerstone of democratic elections.