Prepared by AIS – Promoter of Open Data Albania
This document presents a series of concerns related to the integrity of the electoral process and the right to vote in the context of May 11th, 2025, Parliamentary Elections, as identified by AIS.
The observations stem from AIS’s long-term monitoring of public expenditures and procurement through its three transparency platforms:
- Open Procurement Albania
- Open Spending Albania
- Open Corporates Albania
In the 2017 elections, AIS implemented the ICT for Fair Elections project, which mapped electoral violations based on citizen reports. Unfortunately, this initiative is not active during the 2025 elections due to a lack of funding (Raise Voice Albania – Make Elections Count Za’Lart 2017 ).
This report also draws from journalistic investigations and media reporting, particularly from journalists covering anti-corruption issues. AIS maintains close partnerships with investigative journalists, supporting and empowering them with structured and open data resources.
The material highlights several problematic elements of the current campaign and election environment, including:
- The activation and influence of criminal groups in various districts.
- The growing political role of certain business groups.
- The misuse of public funds and the awarding of tenders to companies owned by or linked to politically exposed persons (PEPs).
- Clear signs of pressure being exerted on the public administration, including mass temporary hiring outside of official staffing structures.
The report also raises systemic concerns about the electoral system itself. Numerous amendments to the Electoral Code between 2008 and 2025 have undermined the principle of fair representation. The current system-regional proportional representation without a national compensation mechanism-fails to ensure equitable electoral outcomes.
Read the Report: Observations on the Integrity and Security of the 2025 Parliamentary Elections