TIRANA, April 11 – Socialist Party members around the country voted in favor of reconfirming Edi Rama as party leader in a referendum called by the latter as an answer to critics within the party, who accuse him of failing to hold party elections in 2013.
Over 95 percent of the Socialist membership answered yes to the referendum’s question whether the party chairman should automatically be re-elected when the party wins the general elections in the referendum held last Saturday.
Turnout was also high with about 84 percent of Socialists exercising their right to vote, according to the Socialist Party.
“The process was democratic, transparent and monitored by the media. All requirements foreseen by the party’s election code on the holding of referendums were observed, said Blendi Klosi, SP organizational secretary.
Rama himself interpreted the landslide yes as an acceptance by the party’s rank and file of the decision not to hold party elections in 2013 and thanked supporters in a Facebook status.
“Today’s referendum fully confirmed our conviction, just like it confirmed the decision of the Socialist Party congress to amend the party statute regarding the chairman’s term when the latter holds the position of Prime Minister,” Rama wrote.
However, Ben Blushi, Rama’s main opponent within the party, contested the referendum saying the process was manipulated.
According to Blushi, voter’s lists were rigged and the referendum was against the party’s election code which states that referendums cannot be held two months ahead or after the party’s main forum, the congress.
Blushi also accuses Rama of violating the party statute by not holding elections for the party chair every four years as foreseen by the statute, which was amended recently by the SP congress held last month to accommodate the principle that whenever the chairman wins general elections he or she is reconfirmed as head of the party without the need to hold party elections.
Another critical voice within the Socialist party, MP Mimoza Hafizi raised concerns over transparency saying the list of voters called in the referendum were not made available to her.
The voting technically puts an end to the duel between the Prime Minister and his main challenger Blushi, who hasn’t hidden his ambition to run for the party chair.
Now that Rama has received a strong backing by the party base to continue as party leader and with Blushi increasing the dose of criticism, it is very likely that the now political opponents will be splitting ways.
In an open letter to the media, Blushi considered the process manipulated and asked the party to open the ballot boxes so that the announced result could be verified, something which was requested by the Socialist Party after losing the general elections in 2009.
In the letter, Blushi also wrote that “today I gained my freedom” , hinting at a possible split from the party.
Blushi and other disgruntled Socialist members are expected to create a new party, which is likely to be announced in the months ahead.
