Albanian PM insists on-time elections despite opposition boycott

There is no way that the general elections scheduled on June 18 would be postponed, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama strongly reiterated on Sunday.

His words came after the request made by the Albanian opposition to postpone the elections till a caretaker government is formed.

Opposition parties here have been protesting in front of PM's office for more than 45 days, demanding the stepdown of Rama and the creation of a caretaker government, which, according the opposition, would guarantee the holding of free and fair elections.

But Rama said Sunday at the Socialist Party Assembly that the protest was Democratic Party's choice, and June 18 would be the day when Albanian citizens made their own choice.

According to him, the opposition is boycotting the parliament as it wants to hamper the implementation of the justice reform, seen as a key step towards the country's European Union integration process.

Also on Sunday, the head of the Albanian opposition Lulzim Basha told reporters that the country was not prepared for free and fair elections, saying that the government would "manipulate" the elections.

Basha said a technical government that would guarantee free and fair elections is the only solution.

The opposition leader also vowed to continue the protest.

Meanwhile, even the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), part of the ruling majority, declared Sunday that the SMI was in favor of free and pluralist elections.

Albania is going to have by-mayoral elections in the city of Kavaja on May 7 and both the Democratic Party and SMI have refused to register at the election body for these elections.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties have come up with a common decision not to participate in June 18 elections.

Source: Xinhua