Lack of internet blocks new ID process

TIRANA, March 17 – The lack of the internet access in many cities in Albania has blocked the work of applications for new identity cards. This has been the case at least in Fier and Gjirokastra.
The government and also international personalities have continuously called on Albanians to rush and get the new IDs, which are first and foremost needed for the upcoming parliamentary elections of June 28.
The process has slowed though it started Jan. 12, the government hoped to be able to give them to all Albanian voters on time for the polls, but a move that seems unattainable at this moment.
The new IDs should be first given to more than 700,000 Albanians who do not have a passport, the only other document that may serve as identification in the voting process.
As expected, the process has turned into a main issue of the ever-squabbling political fight in the country.
The opposition says the government is not making it possible because it wants to manipulate the elections. While the government, blames the opposition for not urging the people to go and receive the new IDs.
The government dismissed claims by the opposition that the new tender for the certificates, used until now as an identification document, showed its efforts of manipulation. The government said the tender was a normal procedure and that the certificates were used in many other procedures other than the voting process.