Albania Lifts Bar on Democratic Party Running in Elections

Albania's opposition Democratic Party, which is riven by factions, will be able to run in the May local elections after all - after the Commission of Sanctions and Complaints, CSC, overturned an earlier decision of the Commissioner of Elections not to let it run.

Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi had told the DP that its documentation was incomplete. He said the party's so-called solemn declaration - a key document - had not been signed properly. This was because former leader Lulzim Basha had resigned temporarily, and his signature was missing.

He told the DP to provide a statement from Basha that he had delegated the leadership to current de facto leader Enkelejd Alibeaj or be excluded from the elections.

Alibeaj welcomed the CSC decision, which may be appealed, saying it was "legal confirmation registering the Democratic Party for the local elections of May 14".

Sali Berisha, leader of a rival group within the DP, meanwhile asked the CEC to register his faction for the elections in coalition with the Freedom Party, led by former President Ilir Meta. The CEC dismissed his earlier request to be recognized as DP leader.

Observers say the divided party is unlikely to fare well in the elections against the governing Socialists under PM Edi Rama.

One faction is led by former leader Berisha and the other by Alibeaj. A court ruling on March 6 failed to resolve the matter and the case was sent for re-trial. Until a definite court ruling, the party will be led by Alibeaj.

Conflict in the party erupted last September when Basha, then the party leader, expelled former PM and former president Berisha from the party's parliamentary group, after the US declared him "persona non-grata" for involvement in "significant...