The German newspaper BILD published this week a second and third group of interceptions conducted by the prosecution relating to the local and preliminary elections in Northern Dibra region showing Prime Minister Edi Rama, SP Minister Damian Gjiknuri and Saimir Tahiri (at the time ministers of Infrastructure and Interior respectively) and local police and education officials engaging in vote-buying practices.
In the majority of the first group of interceptions, published on Monday, results a local socialist representative Arben Keshi, who according to SP sources, was subsequently appointed director in one of the Interior Ministry branches.
The ones published on Wednesday mainly include Gjinkuri and Tahiri, who is currently under charges for links with the Vlora region Habilaj gang operating in Vlora during his time in office.
The additionally show Ymer Lala, alleged criminal figure of the region, discussing with above-mentioned politicians on how to buy votes.
Prime Minister Rama, who is also allegedly heard in a conversation with Keshi about the election situation and the expected outcome, reacted by saying that according to him that “the uninvestigated interceptions of Saliu’s servant again show that they were done for blackmail.”
Later in the week, Rama first accepted the veracity of the interceptions and later said he would sue German journalist Pieter Tiede for defamation.
Further on, Albanian President Ilir Meta officially addressed the OSCE and ODIHR presences in Albania on Wednesday, stating the country will not be holding local elections on June 30 and if they are to be held, they will be considered invalid.
In a letter directed to the respective offices, Meta wrote that his latest decree has annulled June 30 as the official local elections date, due to the deadlock Albania is facing and the opposition’s complete parliamentary resignation.
Over the week, opposition supporters have clashed with police in several right-wing districts whose mayors have declared they will be adhering to Meta’s second decree and asked the area’s KZAZ’s to evacuate the voting facilities.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the EU member states postponed the decision whether to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia in October, agreeing to the text that will be proposed to the heads of states who are to meet under the European Council meeting on June 20 to 21.
