SPAK implements strategy to investigate and prevent electoral crimes in 2025

The Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecution (SPAK) has announced a comprehensive strategy to combat and prevent electoral crimes for Albania’s 2025 parliamentary elections. The measures, issued under the directive of the Chief Prosecutor, are part of the newly launched “Strategy for the Investigation and Prevention of Electoral Crime for the 2025 Assembly Elections.”

Why is this important: In Albania, allegations of vote manipulation and corruption often follow every election cycle, whether local or parliamentary. Losing parties frequently accuse opponents of vote-buying and other electoral malpractices. However, these claims are rarely backed by concrete evidence. Meanwhile, OSCE/ODIHR missions monitoring the elections have certified that Albania’s elections have met democratic standards over the past decade. The introduction of this new strategy aims to provide a clearer, evidence-based assessment of the upcoming electoral process on May 11.

What are the measures: The strategy envisages a number of measures, foremost among them the establishment of a dedicated task force. The task force will consist of a Central Structure led by the Chief Prosecutor, comprising prosecutors, National Bureau of Investigation (BKH) officers, financial investigators, experts, and administrative staff. Investigative teams in the field will cover all 12 regions and 61 municipalities.

• Monitoring and investigation: Field investigative teams will focus on offenses related to the misuse of public administration, state resources, and criminal group involvement in the electoral process.
• Cooperation: The Chief Prosecutor will sign cooperation agreements with the Prosecutor General, the State Police Director, and the State Election Commissioner, while a BKH investigator will be appointed to maintain close communication with the Central Election Commission (CEC) for real-time data exchange. Investigative teams will collaborate with other stakeholders, including regional prosecutors, police authorities, law enforcement agencies, local government, civil society, and the media.
• Public reporting and citizen engagement: A dedicated platform will be created for citizens and institutions to report electoral crimes via emergency hotlines, online reports, and email. The reports submitted via this platform will be considered informational unless formally filed as criminal complaints with written documentation. A special unit will monitor public data, media coverage, and social networks, forwarding relevant information to the central and field investigation teams.
• Financial monitoring: A team of financial investigators will monitor budget expenditures and public investments to ensure compliance with electoral laws.
• Public involvement: SPAK has called on citizens, institutions, civil society, and the media to actively support the process by providing documented and evidence-based reports. The Prosecution guarantees prompt, independent handling of reports through official channels to ensure effective investigations into electoral crimes.

Crimes to be investigated: SPAK’s jurisdiction over electoral crimes includes:

• Active and passive electoral corruption.
• Electoral offenses committed by organized criminal groups, armed gangs, or terrorist organizations.
• Electoral crimes involving high-ranking public officials, such as the President, Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, ministers, judges, prosecutors, mayors, and members of independent constitutional bodies.

This strategy marks a pivotal step in strengthening Albania’s democratic processes by enhancing transparency and accountability in the upcoming elections.