Tirana, January 23, 2019.  Përballja e Ofertave Politike – POP 2019, is an initiative of a network of eleven civil society organizations[1] in relation to forthcoming local elections of June 30, 2019. 

POP 2019 aims to increase public debate and citizens information on the electoral platforms of the parties and candidates for mayors and orienting these platforms towards citizens’ needs and priorities. It strengthens democracy by fostering transparency and accountability during the elections and post elections period.

POP initiative has been successfully implemented previously during the parliamentary elections 2013, local elections of 2015 and parliamentary elections 2017. It is supported by The Olof Palme International Center, with funds from the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana.

POP 2019 will be organized in the municipalities of Durres, Fier, Kamez, Kukës, Pogradec, Puka, Shkodra, Tirana and Vlora. 

 POP 2019 aims:

• To bring dialogue between constituents and candidates, but also between candidates themselves, by serving as a platform for discussion, whereby candidates will be held accountable to their promises and will be invited to sign the Social Contract between them and the citizens in a town hall format forum. 
• Through the tools of legal advocacy/lobbying the network POP 2019, will strive to achieve results, ensuring that the Social Contracts are not merely a written pledge, but an actionable engagement for future elected mayors.
• To keep an informed and enlightened citizenry by using online technology as a tool to provide information to the public on the promises and priorities made and the work to fulfil them. Additionally the interactive website will offer Albanian citizens a much needed ideological glimpse of what political parties offer.
• To increase both transparency on actions and accountability of candidates and elected officials. Frequent studies have shown that Albanian citizens feel that politicians are only interested in their own wellbeing and interests and care about them only during election periods.

The activities of POP 2019 offer unbiased and equal opportunities to all parties and candidates in delivering and presenting their political objectives and platforms to the citizens. Discussions among candidates from different parties increase the ability of politicians to communicate civically with one another. These also provide a good example to the general public regarding the understanding and support that politician’s offer to their communities regardless of political convictions.

In the centre of all POP 2019 activities will be the citizens and their needs and concerns. Shifting the public debate from politics to policy in the pre-election period is important. POP 2019 is an opportunity for political parties to present their programs and show how much they will look after the citizens in the next four years. The promises of the political parties and their programmes will be monitored after the Local Elections 2019 by POP Network and the groups of citizens.

For more information about this initiative please contact:

Gender Alliance for Development Centre

Mobile: ++355682059301

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.gadc.org.al

[ Gender Alliance for Development Center Tirane; Center for Development of Civil Society in Durres;  Vlora Youth Center and ACPD/Aulona Center in Vlore; Association of Integration of Informal Areas in Kamez; New Epoch, Fier; New Intellectuals Hope – Shkodra; Youth Movement, Puka; Mjaft Movement in Tirana; Center for Youth Progress in Kukës; Youth for Integration, Activation and Awareness, – Youth Board Pogradec.