PM: Pope ‘blesses’ electoral victory

TIRANA, March 20 – Pope Francis officially took his new post Tuesday, but Albania’s political scene is already taking advantage of the Holy Father’s image.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha who was present Tuesday at the Pope’s first ceremonies in Vatican, said he’s always been lucky to have met the Popes ahead of the big victories in elections. He meant meetings with Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
“Since 1992, in every general election that we have won ŠI’ve had audiences [with the Pope] at the start of the electoral campaign and has always been a good omen and a blessing for big victories for the Democratic Party,” Berisha said on Facebook.
His opponent, Edi Rama of the opposition Socialists, reacted by saying that the prime minister is showing signs of insanity, joking that he hears things. “Beyond jokes, it is laughable and shameful that the Albanian PM has such a low ethical standard to the misuse the figure of the Pope,” Rama said on Twitter.
Some critics argue that Albanian politicians in leadership position often abuse their state positions in places where they are sent to represent their country not just their political party.