Albania's leftist majority ahead in local elections
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 June 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Albania's leftist majority ahead in local elections, 22 June 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55b5f40911.html [accessed 26 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 22, 2015
Preliminary results in Albania's local elections show the country's leftist majority is ahead in most municipalities, including the capital, Tirana.
Albanians voted on June 21 to elect mayors and councilors in 61 municipalities.
More than half the ballots have been counted so far.
Turnout was about 48 percent.
In the capital, Tirana, the candidate of the Socialist-led ruling coalition, Erion Veliaj won 53.5 percent of votes while his right-wing rival, Halim Kosova, won 39 percent, the results showed after ballots were counted at two thirds of polling stations.
International observers assessed the polling day "positively" but pointed out "many cases of group voting and some procedural irregularities."
The elections were seen as a test of the Balkan country's fragile democracy as it pushes to join the European Union.
Albania obtained EU candidate status nearly a year ago, and is now expecting to get approval for the launch of full membership negotiations.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
