On 29 March 2021, the Central Election Commission of Albania officially accredited the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) International Election Observation Mission (IEOM)to Albania, to observe the 25 April 2021 Parliamentary Elections. This was ENEMO’s second mission to Albania.

The mission was composed of four Core Team members, and was therefore limited in scale. Due to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mission did not deploy long-term or short-term observers (LTOs/STOs) and did not comprehensively observe the process at polling stations on Election Day, although Core Team experts visited a selected number of polling stations to observe the voting process (see Election Day section).

After observing the pre-election period and preparations for the holding of the election the mission issued its Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions on 26 April .

The Core Team observed Central Election Commission sessions and conducted meetings with international and domestic stakeholders at the central level. The mission monitored and assessed the overall political and electoral environment, respect for the rights to elect and stand for election, conduct of election management bodies, campaigning, gender equity, Election Day developments, electoral dispute resolutions and other crucial aspects of the process, based on international standards for democratic elections and the national legal framework of Albania.

This final report is based on the findings of the ENEMO Core Team, interviews with stakeholders, and analysis of the legal framework and other documents. The report also includes over 60 recommendations to key-election stakeholders, with the aim of addressing observed shortcomings and improving aspects of the electoral process in Albania.

ENEMO would like to express its gratitude to all interlocutors, representatives of public institutions; electoral management bodies, especially the Central Election Commission; election contestants; civil society; media; international community; and all other organizations, institutions, and individuals in Albania for their cooperation and support throughout the duration of the IEOM.

The International Election Observation Mission of ENEMO to Albania for the 2021 Parliamentary Elections was made possible thanks to the generous support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

Disclaimer: The content of the document is the sole responsibility of ENEMO and does not necessarily represent the position of the donor.