Preview reports on Albania’s parliamentary election, 23 June 2013

Albania headed to the polls for a parliamentary election on 23 June 2013.

This election was seen as a 'crucial test' to the democratic institutions of the country and also a challenge for the prime minister, in power for eight years and a prominent figure in Albania since the collapse of Albania's dictatorship in 1991.

The run-up to the election was marked by a political dispute which left Albania's top electoral body short-dtaffed, thus making it unable to certify the result.

Find below a collection of media reports, analyses from different sources and the reaction of EU authorities to this election.

ESO: Background Information: Albanian parliamentary election, 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/albanian-parliamentary-election-23-june-2013/

Blog: The MonkeyCage, 12.06.13: 2013 Albania Pre-Election Report: Good Reforms Meet Bad Politics: A Looming Electoral Crisis in Albania http://themonkeycage.org/2013/06/12/2013-albania-pre-election-report-good-reforms-meet-bad-politics-a-looming-electoral-crisis-in-albania/

Council of Europe: Parliamentary Assembly: Press Release, 11.06.13: Albania needs 23 June elections to meet Council of Europe standards, says PACE pre-electoral delegation http://assembly.coe.int/ASP/NewsManager/EMB_NewsManagerView.asp?ID=8833&L=2

EurActiv, 21.06.13: Albania under scrutiny as voters head to polls http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/west-watch-closely-albania-elect-news-528766

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/13/574, 17.06.13: Statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Stefan Füle on the parliamentary elections in Albania on 23 June 2013 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-574_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/13/138, 25.02.13: EU-Albania: Elections will be crucial test of democracy http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-138_en.htm

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