First vote for new president set for June 20

TIRANA, June 8 – The parliament will hold its first round of voting for a new president on June 20. That was decided by the head of the parliamentary groups met Thursday. Albania’s president is elected by the 140-seat parliament with the president needing to secure at least three-fifth, or 84 votes.
The parliament holds five rounds of voting, and unless a president is elected, parliament must dissolve and new parliamentary elections are to be held within 60 days. The presidential election has already sparked much squabbling among the country’s political parties which have failed to unite even among their own members.
The ruling Democratic party-led coalition has offered candidates, including their deputy leader, Bamir Topi. Republicans would like to see their president, Sabri Godo, as the country’s next president. Christian Democrats may likely support the existing president, Alfred Moisiu, to run for a second term. The opposition Socialist party-led coalition has yet to unite their members behind a candidate. While the Socialists have yet to declare their support for a candidate, time and again they have hinted they may support Moisiu for a second term. Their former leader, Fatos Nano, has already declared himself a candidate and threatens to cause a party division unless supported. Paskal Milo of the Social Democracy party has also said he might run for the post. Other presidential candidates may be Nobel- prize candidate, writer Ismail Kadare, and a new name, Kristaq Traja, a judge of the Strasbourg Court until recently. All candidates must present their candidacy petitions signed by at least 20 lawmakers. Following receiving the petitions, the parliament holds its first vote June 20. (Tirana Times Staff)