Moisiu calls for end to political debate on pesidential elections

TIRANA, May 21 – Albanian President Alfred Moisiu on Monday called on all political parties to end the debate over who is to replace him in the event no one has been elected by the end of his term, which expires on July 24.
Last week, Moisiu said that he would relinquish the presidency only to the person who is elected to replace him and no one else.
At the same time, the majority Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that according to the constitution, Moisiu has to leave the pesidency to Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli in the event no one has been elected to succeed him.
This interpretation of succession has been opposed by the opposition, as well as other constitutional lawyers, saying the law states that Moisiu leaves the post to the next president to prevent a constitutional vacuum from being created.
Moisiu considered the succession debate “artificial, unnecessary and motivated by daily political interests.”
“(The President) appeals to the parliament, government, political parties, institutions and the media that before the political and professional agendas, they put the major interest of democratic stability and political cooperation for the necessary reforms that make possible the fulfillment of all political and economic criteria to receive an invitation for NATO membership,” said a statement from the President’s office.
Moisiu also appealed for a visionary policy on the eve of the “historic visit of U.S. President George W. Bush and the resolution of the final Kosova status, so that we testify we are a country in normalcy, stability and with ongoing stable. democratic development,” said Moisiu.
The Albania parliament hopes to elect the new president by June 24 while a month later, on July 24, the new president should be innaugurated.
Moisiu himself has said he would like to run for a second term and he seems to be supported by the opposition.
The Democratic party has declared Bamir Topi, its deputy leader and head of its parliamentary group, for the post.
On Monday, Topi said that the majority should convene to declare him as the joint candidate.
The Republican party, a major ally of the Democratic Party has declared their president, Sabri Godo, is their candidate.
Former Socialist leader and prime minister, Fatos Nano, has also declared himself as a presidential candidate.
The president is elected by three-fifth of the 140-seat parliament and unless elected in five rounds the country is required to move for new parliamentary elections.