TIRANA, July 3 – The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha met in Vienna with the top OSCE official, Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, in a meeting were Basha explained the problems the opposition believes marked the electoral process of the June 21 local elections.
They discussed a number of issues related to the local elections, the OSCE said in a statement.
Zannier took note of Basha’s position and listened carefully to his concerns about the latest developments in Albania, connected with the local elections and alleged irregularities during the election process, an OSCE press release said.
The Democrats have complained about undue pressure on voters from the left-wing coalition of Prime Minister Edi Rama and Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta.
The Democrats also insist there has been vote buying and manipulation.
The Democrats suffered a crushing defeat in the elections, winning only 15 out of 61 town halls, and marking the worst election results ever since the party’s founding in 1991.
Highlighting the important and impartial role played by the Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in monitoring the election process, Zannier assured Basha that an objective and accurate assessment of the elections will be reflected in the mission’s Final Report when it is released in about eight weeks, the OSCE said.
“The Final Report will offer a number of recommendations on how to bring the election process further in line with OSCE commitments and international standards,” he said. “I expect all sides to engage constructively to contribute to implementing these recommendations for the benefit of the Albanian people.”
June 21 was Basha’s first electoral test in his post as the opposition leader, a role he took on two years ago after the defeat of his party in the general elections.
Basha is the serving Tirana’s mayor but did not run for reelection seeking to go after the prime minister’s seat instead. The Democrats lost Tirana in the last elections.
