Albania's May Elections: A Historic Vote with Global Oversight

More than 300 international observers will monitor Albania's May 11 election, allowing overseas citizens to vote for the first time. The OSCE aims to ensure a free and fair electoral process, as Albania seeks to strengthen its democratic institutions and move closer to EU membership.

Over 300 international observers are set to oversee Albania's May 11 parliamentary election, marking a historic moment where residents abroad can participate in voting. This announcement was made by a body of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Wednesday.

The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR, is deploying 338 officials to scrutinize every aspect of the election. This mission is crucial in determining the transparency and fairness of the electoral process, now extended to Albanians living overseas.

This election comes at a pivotal time as Albania, under the leadership of Prime Minister Edi Rama of the Socialist Party, continues its discussions with the European Union aimed at EU membership by 2030. However, allegations of corruption and electoral manipulation persist, intensifying the significance of the OSCE's role in this election.

(With inputs from agencies.)