Berisha agrees to postpone elections

TIRANA, Dec. 26 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha, also leader of the governing Democratic Party, said in an interview to the public television TVSH that he would be ready to postpone the date of the local elections within the constitutional frameworks. Obviously bowing to the international pressure made recently Berisha seemed to agree with the opposition request to postpone it from Jan. 20 to Feb. 20.
The election date has been a main topic of contest from the opposition saying that would serve to prepare more correct voters list. It is very likely that everyone will agree to hold local elections on Feb. 18, Sunday. That has been a topic of debate pushed from the opposition small Socialist Movement for Integration of former Socialist premier Ilir Meta.
Berisha seemed to change his reactions this time saying that they would not accept to hold local elections beyond the constitutional mandate, which is Feb. 20, something new that was bluntly denied before by the governing majority. Again he blamed the opposition for not postponing elections saying that if the majority would have its consensus they could have voted to change the date from Jan. 20 which has been set from the president.
Berisha also acknowledged that a speech held last week to the parliament by the former Socialist premier Fatos Nano has had its positive impact on a considerable number of opposition parliamentarians.