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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Since August of this year, SPAK is investigating two CEC tenders, which were won by the Smartmatic company for electronic identification and voting. Tenders for biometric identification and electronic counting voting equipment are worth $21 million.
The head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, says that he does not feel worried about this investigation, while emphasizing that the process is legitimate.
"Personally, I have zero concerns for myself, but also for anyone else from the CEC engaged in this process. I think it would be of no use whatever I say, as in the end there is someone else giving the ratings in this case too. The process has all the legitimacy in every point of view" , says Celibashi.
As for electronic voting in the 2025 elections, Celibashi says it is too late to extend it to 6 counties.
"Impossible in 6 circles, there is no more time. Electronic voting can only be done in 1, 2 or 3 districts", says Celibashi.
What tenders are we talking about?
The tender with reference number REF-83073-12-23-2020, i.e. the tender for the purchase of voter identification equipment, is practically the most important and with a very large fund.
The tender was opened on December 24, 2020 and the announcement procedure was negotiated. The publication was made on January 18, 2021. The CEC has announced the tender with a limited fund: 2,112,304,484 new ALL without VAT. It was acquired by the company "Smartmatic International Holding BV". based in the Netherlands. What stands out is that the net worth of the company based in the Netherlands is 2,016,354,628 new lek without VAT. So very close to the limit fund. This was the only company in the running, as the other 5 withdrew.
The second tender concerns the purchase of electronic voting equipment, for the experimentation of electronic voting in the 2021 elections, in the 32 voting centers of administrative unit number 10 in Tirana. The limit fund was 109,999,500, while the winning company offered 99,424,460 ALL. So again very close to the fund limit.
Over 21 million euros have been spent and this has raised suspicions at SPAK that we are dealing with an abusive scheme. If the violations are confirmed, Ilirjan Celibashi has his work cut out for him.
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