Republican leader says government responsible for free and fair elections

TIRANA, Nov 8 – Sabri Godo, honorable president of the Republican Party, part of the governing coalition, said that the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha was responsible for holding free and fair elections net year.
Republicans are part of the governing coalition and the main partner for Berisha’s governing Democrats.
Speaking to a local newspaper Godo said that he did not like the new electoral code being prepared by a parliamentary commission basically made up of the two leading parties, Democrats and main opposition Socialists.
The new code harshly penalizes the smaller parties putting them in unfair position in the political game, he told Shekulli newspaper.
The new draft code will endanger the upcoming general elections next year.
“If we fail this time we close the doors to ourselves,” he said, adding that even if we become a full NATO member no one is to pardon the country for failing in the polls, something that has been noted during the whole post-communist period.
If the country fails to have free and fair election then the biggest responsibility falls on Berisha, he said.