KQZ audit of 6 March 2022 campaign funds: fines on parties and candidates
Status: Sanctions announced 19 Jan 2024 (KQZ). Appeal outcomes not confirmed.
Summary
The Commission of Sanctions and Complaints (CSC) of the KQZ announced on 19 January 2024 administrative sanctions after auditing campaign funds for the 6 March 2022 elections. Six fines totalling ALL 1,254,785 are listed: ALL 750,000 on the Democratic Party under Art. 173 point 3; ALL 100,000 each on the finance staff of the Socialist and Democratic parties under Art. 173 point 1; and ALL 92,775, 120,590 and 91,420 on three mayoral candidates (two Socialist, one from the 'House of Freedom' coalition) under Art. 173 point 5. The KQZ headline says 5 sanctions but the text lists 6. Under the KQZ text, the candidates' funds are to be transferred to the CEC.
Separate Shqiptarja headlines (undated in the search results) report that PD and PS were among 108 parties fined over 2022 funds, and that PS exceeded the spending limit by three times while funding sources for 17 PS candidates were unknown. These headlines were not opened and their figures are unverified.
The Socialist Party appealed the KQZ decision No. 38 of 9 April 2024 to the KAS, arguing the 2022 campaign was reported under KQZ rules and audited separately (search-result summary). The appeal outcome was not confirmed.
Key facts
- KQZ CSC sanctions announced 19 January 2024 (KQZ page).
- Total of the six listed fines: ALL 1,254,785 (verified against the KQZ table).
- Democratic Party party fine: ALL 750,000 (Art. 173 point 3).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- KQZ imposed the listed fines (official decision as published).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationShqiptarja headline (undated): PS exceeded the legal spending limit by three times; funding sources unknown for 17 PS candidates (headline only).
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationKQZ audit findings: fines for failure to meet reporting and financing rules (per Article 173 as cited). The KQZ page does not allege illegal donors.
Open questions (3)
- Outcome of the KAS appeals against the 2024 decisions.
- Whether the 'three times' finding relates to the 2021 or 2022 campaign.
- Whether the 108-party headline is accurate.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Socialist Party (appeal to KAS, search-result summary): the 6 March 2022 campaign was reported under KQZ rules and audited separately. Outcome not confirmed.
Figures
Money trail →KQZ fine on the Democratic Party of Albania (Art. 173 point 3)
750,000 lek
otherSource label: VerifiedStated definition: Fine imposed by the KQZ CSC, announced 19 Jan 2024. Not a payment of campaign money.
Date: 19 Jan 2024 · Payer: Democratic Party of Albania · Payee: State (KQZ)
- Auditing of election campaign funds of March 6, 2022 elections (opens in a new tab)KQZ · 19 Jan 2024 · official · EN
KQZ fine on Socialist Party finance staff (Art. 173 point 1)
100,000 lek
otherSource label: VerifiedStated definition: Fine on the person responsible for finances, not the party.
Date: 19 Jan 2024 · Payer: Socialist Party finance staff · Payee: State (KQZ)
- Auditing of election campaign funds of March 6, 2022 elections (opens in a new tab)KQZ · 19 Jan 2024 · official · EN
KQZ fine on Democratic Party finance staff (Art. 173 point 1)
100,000 lek
otherSource label: VerifiedStated definition: Fine on the person responsible for finances, not the party.
Date: 19 Jan 2024 · Payer: Democratic Party finance staff · Payee: State (KQZ)
- Auditing of election campaign funds of March 6, 2022 elections (opens in a new tab)KQZ · 19 Jan 2024 · official · EN
KQZ fines on three mayoral candidates (Sako ALL 92,775; Memolla ALL 120,590; Spahia ALL 91,420; Art. 173 point 5)
304,785 lek
otherSource label: VerifiedStated definition: Sum of the three fines. The KQZ text says the funds are to be transferred to the CEC. Total of all six fines = ALL 1,254,785.
Date: 19 Jan 2024 · Payer: Emirjana Sako; Edison Memolla; Bardh Spahia · Payee: CEC (KQZ)
- Auditing of election campaign funds of March 6, 2022 elections (opens in a new tab)KQZ · 19 Jan 2024 · official · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Government
KQZ announces sanctions for the campaign-finance audit of the 2022 elections
Six fines totalling ALL 1,254,785 announced, including ALL 750,000 on the Democratic Party.
Connections
Issued fines
Evidence: KQZ CSC announced six fines totalling ALL 1,254,785 on 19 Jan 2024.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 4 sources.
Source label: VerifiedVerified · 4 sources
- Publisher
- KQZ
- Date
- 19 Jan 2024
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 2024
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 2021
- Publisher
- KQZ / KAS
- Date
- Jul 2024