TIRANA, Sept. 14 – Prosecutors in Dibra have launched an investigation into allegations of electoral fraud related to Sunday’s mayoral elections amid claims that voters may have been offered money to vote for the candidate representing the ruling coalition.
Socialist candidate Muharem Rama won the local elections by more than 4,000 votes compared to his Democrat rival Sherefedin Shehu.
The probe comes after two television shows broadcast investigations into buying votes and the schemes applied ahead and during the polls. The footage earlier this week revealed how a brother and relatives of the Socialist Party candidate went around to influence residents, promising new jobs in exchange for their vote. A second television program showed each voter was offered less than 20 euros per vote, according to hidden camera footage.
Dibra is one of Albania’s poorest municipalities.
“Vote buying and political pressure ruined the electoral process in Dibra,” the opposition Democratic Party said in a statement.
