Political opponents to meet to try to select consensual president

TIRANA, June 18 – Two days before the first round of voting for the new president, and at a time when no formal candidate has been declared by opposing political parties, the main governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, agreed Monday to begin roundtable discussions to reach consensus for a new preisdent and avoid holding new parliamentary elections.
In a statement issued by a party spokesman, the opposition Socialist leader invited Berisha to begin talks, so as to not allow the electoral process for the president to be turned into a parliamentary crisis and, “burn the historic opportunity for Albania’s NATO membership in 2008, provoke early elections in complete lack of the conditions to hold them normally.”
There was an immediate answer from the Democrats’ majority agreeing to the talks. The meeting of the Democrat’s parliamentary group has appointed Astrit Patozi and Gazmend Oketa as their delegation in the meetings with the opposition.
Democrats also said that the presence of the opposition was required at Wednesday’s plenary session.
The opposition has declared it will boycott the June 20 first round of voting for the new president, saying they could not participate in voting in which the conditions had been pre-defined.
The socialsits say they are entitled to nominate the next presidential candidate, just as the opposition had done five years ago.
It is not clear whether the talks will provide positive results prior to Wednesday’s voting. Berisha repeated that his deputy, Bamir Topi, was the best candidate to become the next president.
The nomination of the presidential candidates has turned into a long saga and both camps have no joint opinions on their candidates.
Thus far, the Democrats have promoted Topi, while their republican allies have pushed for the selection of Sabri Godo to become the next president. Further complicating matters, the Christian Demcorats support existing President Alfred Moisiu serving another term and others candidates may yet appear.
Opposition Socialists, or more precisely, Rama, has to cope with his predecessor, Fatos Nano, who has declared himself as the best candidate, and threatened to divide the party and create a fraction, or a new party if he does not receive the Socialist’s support.
According to the constitution, the president is elected in a parliament voting with at least three-fifth, or 84 of the 140 seats. If the president is not elected in five rounds then the parliament is dissolved and new general elections must be held.