Opposition vows to boycott first round of presidential voting

TIRANA, Albania – The Albanian opposition, on Monday, said they would boycott the first-round of voting for the new president next week as they are not pleased with the presidential candidate put forth by the governing majority, thus threatening to take the country to early general elections.
The parliament will hold the first round of presidential voting on June 20, however, the opposition Socialist party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama and their allies say it is up to them to present a candidate, as was done five years ago by the then-opposition ruling Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
“We have been ready to explore all the possibilities for a consensual president, who cannot come out from the Democrats, as it practically makes impossible our participation in the first round of voting,” said Rama.
The Democrats’ deputy leader, Bamir Topi, has been nominated as the candidate for the post, while the opposition has not officially named a candidate, though they have hinted they would support current President Alfred Moisiu running for a second term. Albania’s president is elected by the parliament with three-fifth, or 84 votes, of the 140 seats. Unless elected in five rounds the parliament is dissolved and the country goes to new elections within 60 days, according to the country’s constitution.
Moisiu ends his five-year presidential term on July 24 and the parliament must start the election process at least 30 days before. Presidential elections are another test for the tiny Balkan country’s ever-squabbling politicians as they seek to become integrated into NATO and the European Union.