Berisha launches electoral campaign

TIRANA, Sep 2 – No general elections are expected in the near future in Albania. Elections are scheduled for June 2009, according to the constitution.
Meanwhile, the parliament is still debating the electoral code, something expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Nevertheless, it seems that the election campaign de facto has begun for the Democratic Party, or its leader Sali Berisha, who is also prime minister.
Just ahead of the start of the new parliamentary session next week, the premier is making promises to be carried out prior to general elections.
Salary hike next year will be made May 1, not as usual in July, said the premier Tuesday.
At the same time, the government is also issuing certificates of ownership to hundreds of thousands of persons who have illegally occupied land in post-communist Albania.
Speaking to his parliamentarians Monday, Berisha pledged that the remaining months of this year would be very decisive for deep reforms in the electoral process, justice and economy.
Berisha also called on the opposition to join his party’s efforts in the reforms and in passing many draft laws before the parliament.
Among the major reforms is the proposed electoral code, the lustration draft law and laws on justice, especially regarding the prosecutor’s office.