International report on the polls expected next month

TIRANA, July 18 – The OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission is expected to issue its final report on the May 8 municipal elections in Albania in August.
It is being especially anticipated by the opposition Socialist Party, following the controversial race and result of the Tirana municipality.
The ODIHR report expressed doubt in the preliminary report on the decision of the Central Election Commission to include the miscast votes in the final tally and also for not formalizing the initial counting result.
The ODIHR will also now asses the verdicts of the Electoral College on the opposition claims of irregularities and manipulation of the counting for Tirana.
Socialist leader Edi Rama came out with 10 votes ahead in the initial counting which was not verified by the CEC. Two days later the election authorities decided to include miscast votes in the final tally that put Democratic candidate Lulzim Basha 81 votes ahead. Following the appeals of the opposition, the Electoral College decided to consider all the remaining ballot boxes and following that Basha won by a margin of 93 votes.
The opposition harshly accused both election authorities and the Electoral College for being manipulated by the government and for openly violating the laws. They have not recognized the result, but Rama and his staff have already moved out of the city hall offices.