Albania Ruling Parties Romp Home in Local Election

Albania's left-wing governing coalition scored a massive victory in last Sunday's local elections, winning about 62 per cent of the vote, while international observers raised concerns about allegations of vote-buying and intimidation.

With more than 92 per cent of the votes counted, the 37 parties of the left-wing ruling coalition won 62 per cent of all votes cast on Sunday while the 15 parties of the main opposition bloc won about 31 per cent.

The rest of the votes were divided among 11 parties that ran outside the two main coalitions.

The Democratic Party, the biggest opposition party, won just 20 per cent of the vote, the lowest ever result since it was founded.

The governing parties have usually won the vote in past local elections, using their ability to mobilize people and resources. However, the victory of the ruling coalition this time was much higher than usual.

Thanking the voters, Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama praised the conduct of the election, considering it the "best ever" in the country.

The election showed that "Albania was a normal country that conducted a totally normal electoral process, without serious troubles", Rama said in his victory speech.

The ruling parties "have not pressured any public worker to participate in electoral gatherings as happened until 2013. This time, no public employee was under pressure to vote and to report his vote the day after," Rama added.

Calling the result "historic", Rama said that his government felt great responsibility for the 71 per cent of the 61 new municipalities that it will govern after the elections.

Opposition leader Lulzim Basha put a brace face on his team's defeat. "These elections marked a big step forward for the...