Albania: Prime Minister Edi Rama claims "the most beautiful" of victories
Albanian Prime Minister and Socialist Party Leader Edi Rama speaks during a rally celebrating the party's electoral victory, in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania, April 27, 2021. REUTERS - FLORION GOGA
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama claimed Tuesday April 27 "
the most beautiful of victories
" after the success of the Socialists in the legislative elections in Albania which should allow him to win a third term, a first in this small Balkan country.
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"
We broke the record,
" said the head of government in front of thousands of his supporters who waved flags in Skënderbeg square, the most important square in the capital Tirana.
"
Thank you for trusting me to serve a third term
".
According to the official results relating to the counting of the ballots in 95% of the polling stations, the Socialist Party obtained 48.6% of the vote on Sunday, ten points better than the opposition gathered around the center-right Democrats.
The projections of the Central Election Commission (CEC) credit the PS with an absolute majority, with 74 of the 140 seats of deputies, which should allow it to continue to govern alone.
The electoral process is closely monitored by the international community, which sees it as a test of the proper functioning of the fragile institutions of Albania, a candidate for seven years for entry into the European Union.
► To read also
:
Elections in Albania: desire for continuity and disillusionment at the exit of the polling stations
But after an election campaign peppered with insults, accusations of corruption and violence, the voting and counting went off without major problems and Edi Rama promised to work hand in hand with the opposition.
“
I will be the prime minister of all Albanians!
", Launched this artist-painter of 56 years, inviting the opposition"
to work together (with his party, note) in the interest
"of the country.
Lulzim Basha's Democrats, who had claimed victory as soon as the ballot was over, without the results yet being known, did not concede defeat on Tuesday.
According to the CEC, these, allied to a dozen parties, obtained around 39% of the vote (59 seats).
"Democratic principle"
The MSI, founded by President Ilir Meta, a former socialist who became a fierce opponent of Edi Rama, won less than 7% of the vote (four seats).
The European Union praised the “
good organization
” of this vote and called on the parties to “
follow the democratic principle which consists in respecting the results of the elections
”.
The Prime Minister, who is accused of authoritarianism and arrogance by his despisers, campaigned demanding time to finish infrastructure projects hampered by the pandemic and continue to rebuild the thousands of homes destroyed by a deadly earthquake. 2019.
► To read also
:
Elections in Albania: desire for continuity and disillusionment at the exit of the polling stations
He also launched a massive vaccination campaign against Covid-19, which should allow the immunization by the end of May of 500,000 of the three million Albanians and the revival of the tourist industry hard hit by the health crisis .
His opponents accuse him of all the evils - links with organized crime, rigging of previous elections, regulated cutting of the economy and institutions.
Allegations that the interested party denies en bloc.
Brussels has said yes to the opening of accession negotiations with Albania, but without setting a date.
All parties had pledged to complete the changes requested by the EU to start talks, starting with reform of the judiciary and the fight against organized crime.
For international NGOs, Albania is one of the most corrupt countries on the European continent.
The average salary is only 420 euros, unemployment remains high and young people are massively seeking their salvation in emigration to Italy, Germany or the United States.
(With
AFP
)
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