ELECETIONS 2009, ALBANIANS DECIDE!

TIRANA, June 24 – June 28 parliamentary are a key test of Albania’s political maturity, as the country vies to be further integrated into the European Union after becoming a NATO member earlier this year. Past ballots have been marred by irregularities and fraud. Main Albanian parties have similar policies on EU integration and a moderate role in the Balkan region.
Some 4,300 candidates from 45 political parties grouped in four main coalitions are running for 140 seats of parliament – elected with a new regional proportional system. The percentage of the number of voters to win a seat depends on the region. Votes of the smaller political parties that do not reach a certain margin are divided into their proper coalitions or the two parties in the region. Albania has about 3.1 million eligible voters. Provisional results are expected a day after voting, but could be delayed due to a poor infrastructure. Democratic Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Socialist challenger Edi Rama are the main candidates.
The Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, 64, is confident it will keep power, promising to continue successes of the last four years: improve infrastructure, the business environment, salaries and pensions and provide Albanians with a visa-free regime in the first year of a second mandate. They also promise to continue to fight fiscal improprieties, corruption and organized crime. They promise free and fair elections on June 28, considered as a test of political maturity as part of the country’s integration efforts into the EU. It heads the Alliance for Change coalition of 16 political parties.
The Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, 44, is claiming a new way to govern Albania, accusing Berisha of exploiting the mandate to govern as an opportunity to enrich his family and close clan. Rama offers the capital’s management as a model of good governance, trying to better fight poverty and overcome what he calls financial chaos. Promises of closer ties with the West and re-establishing close cooperation with the IMF have been made. They also promise a visa-free regime for Albanians during the first year of a mandate. It heads the Union for Change coalition of five political parties.
The Socialist Movement for Integration of former Socialist Prime Minister Ilir Meta, claims to become a decisive factor in post election governance, hoping to join forces with all the leftist political parties to turn back Berisha on June 28. It heads the Socialist Alliance for Change coalition of six political parties.
The Movement for National Development, headed by former Democratic Party Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi, now leading a group of right-wing and other small monarchist groups. It heads the Freedom Pole coalition of six political parties.
The Law and Justice Party of Spartak Ngjela, pledges to offer better judgment on the countries key issues. He has previously been justice minister and right-wing lawmaker for the monarchist and the Democratic Party.
More than 4,800 polling stations will be open from 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) to 7:00 p.m. (1700 GMT).
First exit poll results expected about 10:00 p.m. (2000 GMT). Official results expected late Monday.
3.1 million registered voters over 18.
Mountainous Albania, in southeast Europe, has an area of 28,748 square kilometers – a little smaller than Belgium and it borders Greece, Montenegro, Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; coastline faces the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. Albania’s population of 3.2 million has an average age of 32.5 and a life expectancy of 77.2 for women and 72.4 for men – predominantly Muslim, with large Orthodox Christian and Catholic communities. Up to a third of the country’s population emigrated to Greece, Italy and elsewhere in Europe following the collapse of hard-line communism in 1990. Albanian is an Indo-European language, with two principal dialects: Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south.
Albania is one of Europe’s poorest countries with a dilapidated infrastructure, despite 6 percent annual growth. In 2007, the average monthly salary was 27,350 lek ($298.71; or 214.39 euros) , with the minimum wage 16,100 lek ($175.84; or 126.2 euros), while unemployment was 13.5 percent. Main sources of wealth are farming, tourism and remittances from immigrant workers. Less than one-in-five Albanians, or 18.5 percent of the population, live in poverty with less than $2 per day, with a third of households without proper water supply, sanitation and heating. Corruption in the judiciary and government are hampering efforts to be integrated into the European Union.
Albania remains deeply scarred by the four decades of harsh and isolationist rule imposed by Communist dictator Enver Hoxha, who died in 1985. Communism, and Hoxha’s successor Ramiz Alia, were toppled by major student protests in 1990. Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party won 1992 elections, but the country slid into anarchy in 1997 with the wholesale collapse of popular pyramid investment schemes. After coming into power in 1997 and keeping a second mandate in 2001 Fatos Nano’s Socialists were removed from power in 2005, largely hoping Sali Berisha’s Democrats would fight corruption. Nano was replaced by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, offering the capital as an example of good governance. During Berisha’s government Albania has became a NATO member and also applied for candidate status with the EU. Corruption still remains high and the country is one of Europe’s poorest. Albania declared independence in 1912, following Ottoman rule. Ruled by King Zog I 1928-38. Invaded and annexed by Italy before World War II and Nazi Germany until 1944.
Democratic Party Prime Minister Sali Berisha came to power in 2005 pledging to fight corruption. Holding free and fair elections on June 28 is a key test for Albania’s integration efforts into the EU – a key goal for all political parties. Berisha’s Democrats are promising more infrastructure projects, fighting poverty and improving people’s daily life. The opposition Socialists claim a new way of governing, accusing Berisha of enriching his family and the close clan around him, involved in a series of corruption scandals.