Ilir Meta Projected as Albania’s Next President

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – The Speaker of Parliament and Chair of junior governing coalition LSI, Ilir Meta is expected to be voted as Albania’s next President in what is seen as a new turn in the country’s political crisis.

The Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) has officially proposed its leader Ilir Meta as candidate for the country’s next president after a third round of voting failed again today without any official candidates at sight.

In an unexpected turn of events and after a meeting of its parliamentary group this evening, the LSI has proposed Meta as a candidate for tomorrow’s 4th round of voting for a new president.

In an immediate response the Socialist Party parliamentary group has also confirmed its unanimous support for Meta which confirms Albania will have a new president with the votes of the governing center-left majority.

Albania’s prime minister Edi Rama confirmed tonight that “tomorrow Ilir Meta will be elected President of the Republic”, arguing that Meta’s candidacy would be the best for the country in such circumstances as he speaks to all, has access to all, is connected to everyone.

The announcement comes as Albania’s opposition democrats have said they will boycott the country’s upcoming elections adding to fears the small Balkan country could go into an unstable phase of events.

Commenting on the announcement, Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha said: “The political rival Rama tried to put in prison, will be proclaimed President. The Old Republic has arrived at its last station through this act of despair. Edi Rama has lost all reasoning and this elite has only one purpose, to get rich and be immune from the law.”

Analysts have commented on the news that Rama has achieved what he wanted by pushing Meta into the corner of the presidential position.

“This governing majority has enough votes and Meta will become President tomorrow, while Rama has achieved precisely what he wanted. To kick Meta out from the active political scene, even for a period of 5 years. After Meta’s exit from the stage, Rama has only one rival, and that is Basha.” – says political commentator Blendi Fevziu.

After three failed rounds of voting, the Albanian Constitution gives Parliament the right to elect a new president with only a simple majority, which the current governing coalition can assemble comfortably.

The next voting round by Parliament is scheduled for tomorrow at 5pm in Tirana.