Opposition Socialists prepare candidate list

TIRANA, May 5 – Monday was a day off for the public activities of the main opposition Socialist party following the killing of its legislator Fatmir Xhindi last weekend.
The event was exploited by the party’s leader Edi Rama for consultation of the names of the candidates for the June 28th elections.
With the new electoral code following constitutional amendments last year, it is now totally up to the party leader to set the names on the list of candidates leaving too much power in the hands of a party leader.
There will be lists of candidates for the 12 regions in the country.
The new code has also set that one third or 30 percent of the candidates, or winners should be women. That will give priority to some women candidates.
Socialist party sources say that some of the well-known personalities in the daily life of the party like Valentina Leskaj, Gramoz Ru詬 Fatmir Xhafa, Ben Blushi, Erion Bra襬 Taulant Balla, Arta Dade, Ermelinda Meksi, Blendi Klosi, Marko Bello, Rajmonda Stefa, Kastriot Islami, Namik Dokle, Andis Harasani, Shp쵩m Idrizi, Arben Malaj have been already confirmed by their leader that they will be in the list.
It is not yet known whether former Socialist leader Fatos Nano will be included in the list. He has already sidelined himself since his loss in the 2005 elections after he resigned from the premier’s post and also the party leader.
It is also not known whether Rama himself will include his name. That means that he will resign from the post of the Tirana mayor he keeps now.
All political parties should send their lists to the Central Election Commission just before the start of the electoral campaign, or in about two weeks.