Home > 1. The principles of Europe's electoral heritage > ALBANIA- Joint Opinion on the Electoral Code
 
 
 
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Paragraph 27
 

Article 69(2) provides that a candidate proposed by a group of voters cannot be “directly or indirectly supported by any other subject or candidate running in the elections”. A similar provision is found in Article 70(2).  Candidates should not be prohibited from expressing views concerning other candidates or from answering questions from voters as to which candidates or political parties are best suited to be colleagues in the Assembly.  An expression of such views would be “directly or indirectly supporting” another candidate or electoral subject.  In their current form, these articles are too broad and could be applied to restrict legitimate campaign expression designed to enable voters to make informed choices. The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR recommend that Articles 69(2) and 70(2) be reviewed to ensure that they cannot be interpreted or applied to restrict the freedoms of expression and association, which are especially important in election campaigns.