Rama reelected leader of Albanian opposition Socialists

TIRANA, May 14 – Albania’s opposition Socialist Party re-elected the Mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama, as its party leader for the next four years after about 80,000 party members cast their votes Saturday.
Rama reportedly received 97.5 percent of the ballots as there was practically no other serious candidate to rival the existing party leader.
Rama has held the post since October 2005 when the Socialists lost in the general elections and he replaced former Prime Minister Fatos Nano, who resigned following his defeat in parliamentary elections.
Rama, 43, considered the process historic as it was the first time all party members voted to elect their leader.
Rama said the Socialist Party was ready for new elections this autumn. He also said the party would prepare its draft governing program in September.
The opposition, however, is not in complete agreement as to whether they will call for early elections when the parliament elects the president next month. The opposition Socialists are to convene in a party congress early next month to discuss their political agenda.
Rama is best known for his successful work at the Tirana city hall.
In 2004 Rama was voted the world’s best mayor for his work in improving living conditions in the Albanian capital in an Internet contest organized by the London-based City Mayors organization.