Denada Jushi
General elections will be held on May 11, 2025. According to the Electoral Code, four months before this date, the government and municipalities are prohibited from promoting public investments, infrastructure projects or reconstruction plans. This restriction is intended to guarantee fair competition between parties and prevent the use of state resources for political gain.
Article 91, point 4, of Law No. 10019, dated 29.12.2008, as amended, and Decision No. 9, dated 24.12.2020, of the Regulatory Commission of the CEC, clearly define this limitation. The only exceptions are for:
i) legal and sub-legal acts;
ii) targeting certain categories of the population;
iii) and which foresee increases in salaries, pensions, or tax cuts.
Also, the promotion of public activities for which public funds have been newly or specifically made available is prohibited.
Despite this, the practice of law enforcement leaves much to be desired. The electoral code, drafted and approved by politics itself, is often ignored and violations are evident.
Flagrant cases of violations
Civil society organizations have documented several concrete cases. Among the most serious is the use of public administration for electoral purposes. One example is the meeting of Prime Minister Rama with employees of the Municipality of Tirana, who, according to testimonies, were forced to attend.
AM, a florist at the Municipality of Tirana, tells "Sinjalizo" that on February 20, 2025, she and her colleagues were called to a political meeting:
"They told us to come in our work uniforms, at 15:00 PM, to the square. We were on the list and had to report our participation. No one wants to stay out in the cold after their shift, but I need my job because it supports my family."
The violations do not stop there. The Ministry of Infrastructure continues to publish announcements for road and transport projects. Also, the approval of bonuses for pensioners and the passage of the law on properties in mountainous areas are other examples of interventions that violate equality in elections. After January 11, the promotion of investments by the Prime Minister and ministers on social networks has continued, in open violation of the law.
Lawyer Marash Logu sees this as direct interference in the electoral process:
"The promotion of investments during this period aims to manipulate and alienate the will of the voters. For this reason, the CEC has provided clear rules."
"Sinjalizo" requested comment from the Media and Information Agency (MIA), but did not receive a response.
Political use of institutions
Qëndresa Kyivtare, an organization engaged in election monitoring, has identified several cases of abuse. According to them, Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu is one of the most promoted figures through school social networks:
"We have documented that each school has a person responsible for distributing the minister's posts."
The organization has filed three complaints with the CEC, including:
– 36 school principals and ZVA
– 18 directors of hospitals and health centers
– 1 mayor
All have been accused of using official websites to campaign in favor of the Socialist Party.
The State Election Commissioner has issued an instruction to stop this practice, but in reality, the impact remains limited. The Chairman of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, has expressed concern on social media, citing the approval of two draft laws with fiscal impact that create the perception of using the law for electoral purposes.
The CEC, in a response to "Sinjalizo", states that:
"Each case is being reviewed individually. If violations are found, appropriate administrative measures will be taken."
But in practice, the fines are symbolic. In 2023, only 20 fines were imposed, totaling 20,000 euros – an amount that does not prevent offenders from repeating the act. Moreover, political parties are unwilling to toughen the penalties, reinforcing a culture of impunity.
Who are the main offenders?
According to monitoring, the most frequent violators are the highest government officials themselves. Besides Prime Minister Rama and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku, Minister of Health Ogerta Manastirliu is the name most frequently mentioned for electoral promotions in public institution networks, especially in schools.
Does this propaganda affect the election??
Promoting public investment on the eve of elections gives an unfair advantage to the ruling party. Through the use of official vehicles, fuel, administrative employees and public spaces, the majority turns governance into a campaign instrument.
This phenomenon is repeated in every election and has been repeatedly criticized by international observers. However, the CEC and other institutions remain powerless in the face of a government that controls all state mechanisms.
The government has shown itself willing to circumvent the law for electoral benefits. If this trend continues, the guarantee of free and fair elections will remain only on paper – while the reality for citizens is a process distorted by abuse and propaganda.
