TIRANA, June 19 – Opposition supporters physically clashed with state police in Kavaja on Wednesday evening, when they tried to forcefully enter the Commissions of Electoral Administration Zones (KZAZ), where the election materials were located.
Police threw tear gas and water with high pressure to keep protesters away, even leaving the facility’s area to capture some of the most active protesters in its proximity.
Similar moments of strong tension took place on Wednesday in many cities in Albania, especially where the opposition has control over the municipalities.
Its supporters gathered around the premises where the KZAZ have been set up, demanding the electoral process be terminated.
The situation also escalated towards confrontation between the police and opposition supporters in Kamez and Burrel, where similar attempts were made to enter the KZAZs.
The police used tear gas to keep away opposition supporters who later entered the Palace of Sports, taking, destroying and ultimately burning the electoral materials.
Right-wing municipalities have been insisting for the premises that have been made available to the Central Election Commission (CEC) to be evacuated for the June 30 local elections process.
According to them, the decree of President Ilir Meta for the cancellation of June 30 should be respected, and consequently there can be no election process.
Meanwhile, the CEC considered the decision of the head of state to be void and continued with the preparations for the elections.
Strong tensions were also recorded in Tropoja this week, where opposition supporters entered the city centre’s KZAZ.
In Shkodra, opposition supporters, together with employees of the Shkodra Municipality and former DP deputies, gathered on Tuesday evening in the yard of the “Shejnaze Juka” Middle School and, after several minutes of confrontation with the police forces, set fire to the school’s first floor.
All materials brought by the CEC for the preparation of the voting day were burned.
Former DP MP Bardh Spahija, who was among the protesters, said that “this was only the beginning of popular revolt against those who are imposing on Albanians one-sided elections. It was a quick reaction of the Shkodra citizens. This is not violence. Violence was an attempt by the state police to usurp the institutions and impose itself on Shkodra citizens.”
Meanwhile, Shkodra Mayor Voltana Ademi, who heads the association of right-wing mayors, said in the evening that “only the voting stands were burned. Electoral materials are illegally in the school premises administered by the Municipality of Shkodra. The municipality has officially asked for three days that the buildings where the KZAZs are located to be released.”
The incidents in Tropoja and Shkodra also follow the request of the mayors of some right-wing municipalities to release the KZAZs and polling stations. Through this demand, right-wing municipalities and opposition supporters are aiming to hinder preparations for the June 30th local elections, while the Socialists are continuing with elections’ preparation.
The CEC said it is continuing its work on preparing the June 30 local elections and warned that any violation of this process constitutes a punishable criminal offense.
On Wednesday, Rama warned a new law that will prohibit anyone who commits ‘electoral violations,’ meaning that will interrupt local elections, to leave the country for ten years will pass in parliament.
