Albania Opposition Blocks Main Roads Ahead of June18, Election

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – Albanian opposition supporters have blocked the country’s main road links, demanding that a caretaker Cabinet be allowed to govern until the parliamentary election in June.

Thousands of opposition supporters blocked five national crossroads Monday for an hour. Opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha says they were protesting “drug traffic, crime traffic, ballots traffic, corruption, money laundering traffic.”

European Parliament negotiators are expected to arrive later Monday to mediate between the governing left-wing coalition and the center-right opposition. The opposition so far has declined to negotiate unless Prime Minister Edi Rama resigns.

The opposition alleges the current Cabinet will manipulate the June 18 parliamentary vote. Since mid-February, its supporters have blocked the main boulevard in Tirana, the capital, with a tent pitched outside Rama’s office.

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