Berisha holds late night negotiations with allies

TIRANA, June 14 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha, leader of the governing Democratic party, held late night negotiations on Wednesday with his governing allies to discuss the election of the next president.
Local media reports that Berisha introduced his deputy, Bamir Topi, as the best candidate but quickly bowed to opposing views that they should decide in a round-table with the opposition before agreeing on a candidate.
The opposition has made it clear they do not want Topi to be presented as a candidate. They first asked to hold talks so they might agree on a consensual candidate. Meanwhile, their former leader Fatos Nano has started to collect signatures to become a presidential candidate at the June 20 vote in the parliament.Bamir Topi has not begun the formal procedure of collecting the 20 signatures needed for the first round of voting on June 20.