Albania Cancels Local Vote, Fearing Political Confrontation

Albania’s prime minister on Friday said the Socialist Party had withdrawn its candidate from the mayoral voting in a western town, apparently fearing a confrontation with the opposition supporters who had planned a national protest there the same day.

Albania’s ruling Socialist Party on Friday cancelled a mayoral vote in a western town, apparently fearing a confrontation with opposition supporters who were planning a protest there on the same day.

The opposition Democratic Party has threatened “civil disobedience,” starting with the mayoral vote Sunday in Kavaja, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Tirana.
Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday said the Socialists withdrew their candidate in Kavaja, which was followed by the withdrawal of Astrit Haka, an independent candidate, thus making it impossible to hold the vote.

Rama accused the opposition of planning dangerous actions that would destabilize the country. He urged the opposition to instead accept the ruling party’s offer to help monitor the nationwide parliamentary vote on June 18.

Associated Press