Rama asks president to investigate poll abuses

TIRANA, Sep 2 – Main opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama, also Tirana mayor, sent a letter to President Bamir Topi asking him to investigate and give his opinion on what he considered as abuses in the June 28 parliamentary election.
Socialists complain that the vote counting was abused by the governing Democrats, who deny such a claim.
The opposition also mentions the fact that tens of sentenced persons were let free for some days to ‘help’ the governing Democrats during the electoral campaign and the voting day.
The Socialists say that they do not politically recognize the results and consider illegitimate the new government.
It is not clear whether they will take part or boycott the new parliament, which starts sessions Monday.
They have also denounced as treason the coalition of the small leftist Socialist Movement for Integration Party of Ilir Meta that joined with Berisha, helping him secure enough seats in the 140-seats parliament.
Socialists and one of their allies won 66 seats, Berisha’s Democrats 70 (together with their allies) and Meta’s LSI four seats.