Today, The State Election Commissioner, Mr. Ilirjan Celibashi participated in an important discussion roundtable on the financial transparency of political parties, electoral integrity, and the challenges related to the use of state resources. The 2025 elections represent a crucial test for Albania’s democracy and electoral standards in the context of EU negotiations.

This roundtable, organized by the Institute for Political Studies (ISP), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Qëndresa Qytetare (QQ), and the Albanian Helsinki Committee (KShH), focused on the current challenges concerning electoral financing, electoral crimes, and the integrity of the electoral process. Only through joint commitment and strong monitoring mechanisms can we ensure transparent and fair elections.

Commissioner Celibashi welcomed the initiative undertaken by the CEC, the General Prosecutor’s Office, SPAK, and the State Police to coordinate activities ahead of the May 11 elections to address electoral crimes and ensure trust in the electoral process. “This initiative stems from the responsible conduct and maturity of these institutions,” he emphasized in his speech.

“Reports from ODIHR/OSCE, civil society analyses, and strategic documents such as the Roadmap for the Functioning of Democratic Institutions have identified challenges and proposed measures to improve the electoral process. However, expectations for a deeper treatment of these issues in electoral reform have only been partially met. In this regard, initiatives supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the British Embassy have contributed to analyzing these challenges through civil society projects”.