Basha

The civil war within Albania's main opposition Democratic Party worsened over the weekend after an assembly on Saturday summoned by former DP leader Sali Berisha voted to change the party's statute, and dismiss the current leader, Lulzim Basha - who has, in turn, dismissed some party members that participated in the assembly.

The General Prosecutor's Office in Tirana told BIRN on Friday it would probe allegations that a company had used false documents to win an 18-million-euro public works tender in Albania.

 The Albanian-registered company allegedly pretended to be a branch of a major US-based contractor to get the contract.

Albania's opposition leader Lulzim Basha said on Friday that he wants an in-depth investigation into alleged vote-buying by the ruling Socialists, claiming that the party secured its comfortable victory in the 2017 elections through collaboration with criminals.

News 24 TV channel announced that unidentified persons had sprayed bullets against the home of the father of Albania crime reporter Klodiana Lala in the early hours of Thursday.

Police confirmed the event, saying they were working to identify the attackers. There were no causalities.

As a protest against the election of a new chief prosecutor by ruling Socialists, opposition MPs threw smoke bombs in the Albanian parliament, reports actualno. 

Opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha said on Tuesday that an investigation should be launched into former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri on suspicion that he aided drug dealers trafficking cannabis to Italy during his term in office.

Albania's opposition centre-right Democratic Party, PD, is mulling how to revive its fortunes and win over the voters, following its disastrous defeat in the parliamentary election in June. Internal rifts have since further undermined the party's unity.

The head of Albania's main centre-right opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, on Monday said his party would soon submit a draft law seeking to ban the display of communist symbols in public.

The Democrats' leader said his party was seeking help from German partner parties in order to follow the same model that Germany has, in banning Nazi symbols.

Albanian police said on Monday they are working with the prosecutors to find out what happened at an opposition Democratic Party rally on Saturday in Tirana, after which about 140 people complained of suffering mysterious ailments.

Problems included red, swollen eyes, skin irritations, vomiting and difficulties with breathing.

Three months of political stalemate in Albania ended early on Thursday after the two main political leaders, Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha, said they had reached an accord on the participation of all parties in the forthcoming elections.