Home | 19 June 2013  
About us | Advertise | Contact | RSS Feed
Cover Story
News
Business and Economy
Editorial
Opinion
Arts and Culture
Features
Sport
Archives
Search
CEC crisis remains unsolved as international pressure grows
TIRANA, June 13 – The Electoral College has reversed a decision of the Central Election Commission that relates to counting the votes in small towns and villages rather than in the county seat in the region of Fier, as the main opposition Socialist Party had requested.

It is the second time the college rules in favor of the opposition party. Albania’s Electoral College is a group of judges with final say on election procedures. They have taken a more prominent role since the opposition’s nominees have abandoned the CEC in protest of what they call political interference by the government.
Article Category: Cover Story
Featured article
Ending the climate of division
Elections in Albania are often seen as do-or-die affairs by political leaders, and that’s never been more true than the polls scheduled to take place in a about week. Both politicians at the helm of the two big coalitions need a victory for their political survival. As they reach the peak of the campaign they need to make sure to keep the bigger picture in mind, understanding that what is good for the country should be a priority: A peaceful, civilized electoral campaign is key. But the problem with the survival of mode mentality, which leads to a radicalization of discourse, goes beyond the two leaders.
Serenades’ city marks Carnival festival
Arts and Culture
 
Albania celebrates Japanese Cultural Days
Arts and Culture
 
Norway holds Red and Blacks to a draw
News
Payments
Payment gateway powered by

Accepted Credit Cards:


News
CoE officials list concerns ahead of polls
TIRANA, June 12 - The situation at the Central Elections Commission is worrying and could hurt the elections process, according to Council of Europe officials at the end of a two-day mission to Tirana. A six-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Luca Volontč, was on a pre-electoral mission to Albania on June 10-11. The mission aimed to assess the situation on the eve of Albania’s June 23 elections. In their feedings, CoE representatives said they also have concerns about the pressure on the public administration, attempts to buy votes and a recent decision that forces media to show in newscasts materials prepared by the parties themselves. “Albania’s June 23 elections need to meet the commitments of the Council of Europe, its standards and also to confirm Albania’s real commitment to democracy, rule
News
Electoral violence condemned
TIRANA, June 10 - A candidate of the recently created center-right New Democratic Spirit Party was severely beaten in the southwestern town of Roskovec last Sunday, marking the latest episode of electoral violence in trend that has alarmed domestic and international observers. International representatives have called on Albanians and all political parties to make sure the elections take place in a peaceful environment. Candidate’s beating ‘politically motivated’ Mit’hat Hoxha, 50, was hospitalized at the Fier regional hospital after being physically assaulted on Sunday night near his house in the town of Roskovec in Fier County, registering the first serious campaign incident involving an MP candidate. Family members said Hoxha had received threats to not campaign on behalf of NDS, but police denied having received any such information by the assaulted candidate.
Business and Economy
Ongoing Italian, Greek recession put Albania’s growth at risk
TIRANA, June 12 – The ongoing recession in Italy and Greece, Albania’s top trade partners and the hosts of more than one million migrant workers sending the overwhelming majority of remittances home, hints the Albanian economy will face another difficult year. After growing by 1.6 percent in 2012, the lowest rate in the past 15 years, top international financial institutions expect the Albanian economy to grow at the same rates while the Albanian government expects growth to accelerate to 3 percent. The GDP in Italy, Albania’s top trade partner, shrank by 2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2013 year-on-year while Greece registered a 5.3 percent shrink, according to data published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Italy, the destination of more than 50 percent of Albanian exports, registered a 2.4 percent shrink in 2012, after positive growth
Business and Economy
Shrink in FDI, remittances, tourism revenue lowers first quarter GDP expectations
TIRANA, June 13 - Foreign direct investment, migrant remittances and tourism revenue all registered negative growth rates in the first quarter of this year, unveiling a gloomy picture of the Albanian economy in early 2013 when a double digit increase in exports was the only positive indicator. Data published by the country’s central bank show FDI, remittances and tourism were considerably lower compared to the first quarter of 2012 when the Albanian economy shrank by 0.2 percent facing severe weather conditions and escalating spillover impacts from crisis-hit EU partners. While the country’s Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) is scheduled to published the GDP performance for the first quarter of 2013 early next July, indirect data on consumption, private investments and government spending as well as exports and imports hint of sluggish performance.
Survey
What would you like to see more of in the pages of Tirana Times?
More hard breaking news through the web
More analysis of local and regional events
More coverage of local cultural events
More coverage of the lives of the expat community
Other
Total voters 58
Newspaper
Number 441
25/11/2011
Rss Feeds
Stay up to date with
RSS Feeds
Latest news
© Tirana Times 2006 - 2011. All rights reserved. Copying & reprinting materials in full or part without prior permission is unauthorised.  
Webmaster: Enea Qirjako