TIRANA, July 29 – State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi called for changes to the Electoral Code to strengthen the separation between state institutions and the ruling party.
At the technical meeting of the Special Parliamentary Commission on Electoral Reform, Celibashi said the misuse of state resources and the blurred line between the state and the ruling party require immediate action. He referred to these issues as key concerns identified in the latest OSCE/ODIHR report.
Meanwhile, the commissioner stressed that the upcoming electoral reform should strengthen legal guarantees in this area. He presented five concrete proposals for the revised Electoral Code.
First, Celibashi proposed a clear definition of “administrative and/or state resources” within the Electoral Code. He said the definition should include public funds, assets, vehicles, buildings, administration staff, institutional electronic systems, state databases, official websites, social media platforms, public communication campaigns, ceremonial activities and other resources linked to public functions.
In addition, Celibashi called for the code to establish the principle of separation between the state and the ruling party. He said many OSCE countries recognise this principle through constitutional or legal provisions.
During the electoral period, he proposed restrictions on public inaugurations, promotional investment events, announcements of new projects financed by the state budget, and new subsidy or grant schemes, except in cases of public interest or emergencies.
Furthermore, Celibashi requested limits on the publication of institutional activities during a defined period. He argued that public institutions should avoid excessive media promotion of their work, including inspections of public projects.
Finally, the commissioner proposed specific rules for institutional communication through official websites, social networks, public campaigns, publicly funded audiovisual materials and digital platforms. He said these channels have become one of the most sophisticated forms of using administrative resources.
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