Europe says Albania’s polls essential for closer ties

TIRANA, Jan. 17 – The European Union on Wednesday told Albania that the holding of free and fair elections was an essential requirement for closer relations with the bloc. The EU welcomed last weekend’s consensual deal of the Albanian political parties that cleared the way to postponing local polls next month putting an end to a dispute over electoral reforms for more than a year. “The EU welcomes the consensual agreement reached by the political parties on 12 January on the modalities of the forthcoming local elections, and the subsequent adoption of the legal amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Code by the Albanian Parliament on 13 January. The EU commends President Moisiu for his decisive role in mediating the agreement. The EU stressed that all Albanian political forces must now implement the agreement by working together constructively and in good faith and by proceeding with the electoral preparations without further delay. The EU reminds that the holding of free and fair elections is an essential requirement for closer relations with the EU” according to the statement.
Moisiu set Feb. 18 as the new date for local elections after the parliament voted unanimously to postpone holding local polls by a month, first set to Jan. 20, and on other constitutional amendments linked to the electoral reform. Albania’s 12 parliamentary political parties of the governing coalition of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the Socialist-led opposition of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama completed a deal on electoral reforms after over three days of talks mediated by Moisiu, Western diplomats and representatives of various international institutions. The two main political groupings disagreed mainly on voter lists and the opposition had also accused the government of distributing fake birth certificates, which are used by voters as proof of identity, a charge the government denied.