Head of OSCE Presence in Albania calls on political parties to support preparations for 8 May local elections

TIRANA, 14 February 2011 - The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, today joined the Albanian President in calling all political parties to support the necessary preparations of local government elections on 8 May 2011.

“Albanian citizens will be able to exercise their right to vote on 8 May 2011, as this date was decreed by the President of the Republic. Election day is approaching very soon, time is flying,”  Wollfarth said.

“I therefore call again on all political parties to acknowledge their legal duties and respect the right of the Albanian citizens to vote. I urge those political parties who have up until now failed to contribute their share to transparent and fair preparations by not nominating commissioners to do so without any further delay. The Central Elections Commission must be constrictively supported in their task to nominate all positions in the commissions in the 66 electoral administrative zones. The OSCE Presence in Albania stands ready to support Albania also in these democratic elections.”