Opposition to resume protests after New Year’s holidays

TIRANA, Jan. 5 – Albania’s opposition Socialist Party said they will resume protest rallies after New Year’s holidays, demanding snap polls.
Party leader Edi Rama, also Tirana mayor, said Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s government will face massive protests, adding that a large number of citizens will join the protest.
The opposition Socialist Party has boycotted the new parliament claiming that the counting process was bad or very bad in one-third of the offices.
The Socialists, who have 65 seats at the parliament, want a parliamentary investigation.
The Democrats, who have 71 seats in the 140-seat parliament, deny a recount should be made, saying that all the results were confirmed by the opposition members of the electoral commission and that move would violate the law.
The leftist Socialist Movement for Integration of Ilir Meta, with four seats in parliament, has joined the governing coalition.
Rama has reiterated that opposition Socialists want the government either to recount the vote in a controversial June parliamentary election or hold another poll.
They also blame Berisha of doing nothing to stem corruption.
Rama has said that 2010 will be a tough year for Albania’s economy, noting that the government is doing no good by the country in hiding the negative economic outlook.