TIRANA – Ruling Socialist Party (SP) has undertaken another step after the signing of the agreement on the Electoral Reform with the opposition regarding 2021 parliamentary elections in Albania by proposing May 9, 2021 as the date of the general elections in Albania.
“When the season of the elections has changed, May 9, 2021 is a meaningful date for the future parliamentary elections,” the head of the SP parliamentary group, Taulant Balla on Monday said, announcing that a proposal was being made to President Ilir Meta. According to the number two of Socialists, this is a historical and symbolic day as it coincides with Europe Day, as well as with the day of the victory over Nazi-fascist occupation in the WW2.
“Therefore, let the President of the Republic consider this date, and we Socialists will be pleased, as it is the day of victory against Nazi-Fascism. I am glad that the DP accepted (the agreement on Electoral Reform). The DP gave up all of its demands. They acknowledged that the June 2017 election was free and democratic. As for the vote of Albanians living outside the territory, the SP has not given up on this promise,” Balla said.
Regarding local elections in Shkodra, Durres, Vora and Rrogozhina, the SP senior official said the date is a competence of the President to be decided.
Albanian political parties reached a long-sought consensus on electoral reform on June 5 this year aimed at guaranteeing free and fair elections and considered a key condition to start accession negotiations with the European Union. After failing to conclude an agreement by the May 31 deadline that had been set by the political parties, two days of meetings of the main political actors were held at the residence of US Ambassador Yuri Kim, facilitating the dialogue together with her EU and British counterparts./argumentum.al
