Opposition says government not preparing IDs on time for polls

TIRANA, July 15 – The Albanian opposition has complained that the government has not made the necessary preparations to equip all Albanians with their identity cards in time for next year’s general elections. Ilir Meta, leader of the opposition ally Socialist Movement for Integration and also head of a parliamentary committee on integration, said the government could not complete issuing IDs to all Albanians ahead of the polls. He said the government had yet to sign the contract with a French company that has won the international tender to produce IDs and biometric passports.
Interior Minister Bujar Nishani said that everything was being prepared and Albanians would start to receive their IDs in January. Voters’ lists have been a major shortcoming during all elections in post-communist Albania. Many Albanians vote in two or more places in an effort by political parties to manipulate elections. (Tirana Times Staff)