Council of Europe to review Albania’s May 11 elections
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will review the May 11 parliamentary elections in Albania during its June 23 session. Italian MP Simone Billi, who headed the observation team, will present the official monitoring report.
Why is this important: The Council of Europe’s assessment carries significant weight in evaluating the legitimacy of Albania’s elections. It shapes European perceptions of the country’s democratic maturity and could influence its future integration path.
Context: The May elections marked the first time Albania included diaspora voting, a move widely seen as a step forward for electoral inclusivity. The elections were monitored by a total of 365 observers from 47 countries, under a mission that included ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the European Parliament, and PACE itself.
Simone Billi’s report praises the cooperation among Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Central Election Commission (CEC). The joint coordination of these institutions is credited with effectively defending the integrity of the electoral process.
The inclusion of the diaspora vote is noted as a milestone in Albania’s democratic development. However, the report also emphasizes that further progress is needed in the broader political culture. Building public trust and ensuring that good governance reaches all levels of society remain ongoing challenges.
What’s next: The discussion in the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly will not only reflect on the technical conduct of the May 11 elections, but also signal how European institutions assess Albania’s democratic trajectory. The findings will likely inform future electoral reforms and may impact political dialogue between Tirana and Brussels.
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