Scandalous Position / Marta Kos Rejects OSCE/ODIHR Report: The Elections Were Free and Fair

A highly unusual situation has emerged in which an EU official has taken it upon herself to contradict the findings of the leading international body responsible for evaluating election processes.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated at a press conference today that the May 11 elections were free and fair, a position that directly contradicts both the OSCE/ODIHR report and the European Commission’s own progress report.

Her remarks came in response to a question from SYRI TV journalist Ambrozia Meta.

Ambrozia Meta:

“The OSCE/ODIHR report and the European Commission’s progress report both found that the May 11 elections were an uneven contest, marred by the misuse of state resources, voter intimidation, the ruling party’s patronage networks, and even the involvement of criminal gangs. In your assessment, how do you interpret these findings? Were the May 11 elections up to the standards required for EU integration? Were they in line with EU norms?”

Marta Kos:

“The elections were free and fair. It is always positive when we receive recommendations for further improvements, and this is beneficial both for Albania and for the EU.”