Socialist Party

Sigurimi files in an exhibition in Tirana. Photo: LSA.

MPs from the governing Socialist Party on Monday decided to postpone approval of changes in two laws intended to ban people from running for parliament who collaborated with the Communist-era Sigurimi secret service after an intervention by the EU's ambassador to Tirana.

The swearing-in ceremony for the elected mayor of Himare in Albania, Fredi Beleri, is scheduled for Tuesday but cannot take place while he still remains in custody.

According to Albanian legislation a deputy mayor, appointed by a council of ministers controlled by the ruling Socialist Party, will have to take office.

The Mayor of Kukes, Safet Gjici, has resigned following publication of a tape showing him having sex in his office.

Albania's prosecution SPAK told BIRN that it had started a criminal proceeding about the case though it is not clear what the exact charges might be. Most likely he might face charges of "abuse of duty".

New General Director of Albania Public Broadcasting Service Alfred Peza is seen in this photo of 16 November 2019 while speaking to the media from the Socialist Party headquarters on his capacity as SP Director of Communication. Photo: LSA

Controversial Venture

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban (L) and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. EPA-EFE/Szilard Koszticsak

Nikos Androulakis, the leader of PASOK, which came third in the May 21 elections, addressed the party's central political committee and new parliamentary group on Sunday. The meeting was attended by candidates and PASOK officials from all parts of Greece.

"The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) will be the opposition to a cabinet nominated by 'We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria' (WCC-DB) and GERB-SDS." This was stated by the leader of the socialist party, Kornelia Ninova.

According to her, this is an unprincipled coalition that shows no interest in the real problems of the people:

The new governor of the pro-Russian autonomous region of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul, publicly thanked her supporters on Tuesday after the Court of Appeal in the region's main city Comrat decided the previous evening to validate the results of the May 14 elections for the position of bashkan (governor).

As Greeks prepare to cast their vote in general elections on Sunday, none of the likely alliances that had been discussed in previous weeks between different parties appears feasible, making a runoff that much more likely.

The Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Edi Rama is ahead in most municipalities in the country after Sunday's local elections and has already won three, Kamza, Vora and Elbasan, where the voting took place electronically and the Central Election Commission was able to declare the results a few hours after polls closed.