Ida Ismail
In a democratic state, civil servants should be impartial and serve the interests of the state and citizens, not a political party. However, in Albania, the line between state and party seems increasingly blurred, raising deep concerns about ethics and institutional integrity. The parliamentary elections of 11 May 2025 have once again highlighted the pressure on public servants to engage in party activities, especially in the run-up to the elections.
The campaign with the administration: What did international and local observers say?
Reports from international and domestic observers have highlighted challenges related to the integrity of the electoral process. The OSCE/ODIHR, in its preliminary findings, noted that the ruling party, which has ruled the country since 2013, took advantage of the use of public resources during the campaign, creating an unfair advantage. The report also highlighted procedural violations, cases of voter intimidation and a lack of transparency, reflecting deeper structural problems in the country’s democratic institutions.
Civic Resistance and CRIIK: Pressure on the administration and patronage
Organizations such as Civic Resistance and the Coalition for Reform, Integration and Consolidated Institutions (KRIIK) reported widespread abuses of public resources and active involvement of the administration in party activities. KRIIK noted that the Central Election Commission (CEC) maintained a passive approach to these violations, allowing the mixing of public and political functions to a large extent. Meanwhile, Civic Resistance identified systematic practices of pressure on public employees, undermining their legal duty to remain politically neutral.
Case "Ç", as a reminder of the problem
One of the most controversial cases that has sparked public debate is that of B. Ç, a public administration employee with obvious political connections. According to a complaint received on the “Sinjalizo” platform, citizen B. Ç. was elected to a management position in the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and is also part of the SP structures. This is in violation of the law “On Civil Servants” and calls into question the integrity of public sector competitions.
B. Ç's political engagement
B. C. is a well-known name in the structures of the Socialist Party. On March 27, 2023, B. Ç. was elected chairwoman of the Ndroq administrative unit.
While in July 2024, B. C. has also been elected a member of the Socialist Party Congress.
During an administrative investigation initiated following a citizen's complaint, B. Ç. stated that she is not part of any political structure and that her political engagement occurs outside of official hours and does not affect her public duties.
Selection of Ms. Ç in public administration
Despite the allegations, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the Department of Public Administration (DAP) concluded that Ms. Ç is not a member of any decision-making body of the SP and therefore, qualified for the position. However, these institutions have not provided official documentation confirming her resignation from political positions, raising doubts about the transparency of the process. In a direct communication, Ms. Ç claimed that the investigation against her has been closed and that she has presented all her allegations.
Mrs. B. Ç, active in political meetings
Despite these statements, B. Ç. continues to appear at high-profile political events, including meetings with local leaders and SP representatives. Photos from October 2024 show him alongside party leaders, raising questions about claims of disengagement from political activities.
So far, the Socialist Party has not responded to requests for information on whether B. Ç. continues to be part of its structures. Her name continues to appear on the Congress lists on the official SP website, raising doubts about the functioning of the public administration and the conflict of interest that threatens the principle of impartiality.
Lack of transparency and politicization of the administration
Cases like B. Ç.'s show that the mixing of public duties with political engagement remains a major problem for the integrity of public institutions in the country. As long as there is no full transparency and strict implementation of the law, civil servants risk becoming party "servants" instead of serving the citizens.
