Vangjel Tavo

The mayoral elections in Himare, southern Albania, to replace the jailed ethnic Greek Fredi Beleri were reportedly marred by influence that the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama seems to have used to back its chosen candidate, Vangjel Tavo.

Athens is indirectly but clearly questioning the election results of Sunday's runoff municipal elections for the municipality of Himare in southern Albania after serious doubts were raised by members of the ethnic Greek minority.

Preliminary results Monday showed Albania's governing Socialist Party candidate Vangjel Tavo won the mayoral election in the southwestern town of Himare after the previous mayor was removed in a case that has sparked tensions with Greece.

Governing Socialist Party candidate Vangjel Tavo was leading in Sunday's repeat mayoral election in Himare, a town in southwestern Albania, with 63 percent of the vote counted from 28 out of 36 polling stations.

A new election for mayor of the predominantly ethnic Greek city of Himare in southern Albania will take place on August 4, without the previously elected mayor, Fredi Beleri, being able to help his chosen successor, Petro Gjikuria.

Albania's council of ministers, headed by Prime Minister Edi Rama, appointed on Wednesday Vangjel Tavo as prefect of the Vlora district, in Albania's south, in a move seen as an effort by Rama to diffuse tensions with Greece, caused by the conviction of the elected mayor of Himare for vote buying.

Greece is anticipating an initiative from the Albanian government of Prime Minister Edi Rama to address the ongoing deadlock in bilateral relations caused by the detention of Fredi Beleri, the ethnic Greek mayor-elect in the southern town of Himare, on charges of alleged vote-buying.

The Kakavija crossing point on the border between Albania and Greece on 20 February 2021. Photo: LSA