FOCUS News Agency
Tirana. Albania's Electoral College has upheld a decision by the Central Election Commission about miscast ballots that gave a victory to the ruling Democratic Party candidate Lulzim Basha in the race for the mayorship of national capital Tirana, officials said on Saturday, Xinhua informs.
Basha regained the lead of the tight race by 81 ballots after the Central Election Commission decided to re-count votes cast in the wrong ballots, overturning the victory by just 10 votes of incumbent mayor Edi Rama, candidate of the opposition Socialist Party.
Supporters of Basha and the ruling Democratic Party celebrated outside the headquarters of the party in central Tirana and a smiling Basha told them he was happy about the victory but would wait for the final certification of the result by the election authorities.
"I am very happy tonight because all this battle was about listening to the voice of every citizen," Basha told the crowd. " This is the biggest victory."
The counting of votes on live television and the ensuing battle over every vote in the race for the Tirana mayorship has gripped the small Balkan nation and caused tension at the Central Election Commission when it was counting the miscast votes after opposition supporters gathered outside.
The debate has divided further the two main parties, the ruling Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the opposition Socialist Party of Edi Rama.
The Socialists have boycotted parliament in protest and could escalate their protest. The Socialists said the decision of the judges lacked a clear reasoning and they might appeal.
Basha regained the lead of the tight race by 81 ballots after the Central Election Commission decided to re-count votes cast in the wrong ballots, overturning the victory by just 10 votes of incumbent mayor Edi Rama, candidate of the opposition Socialist Party.
Supporters of Basha and the ruling Democratic Party celebrated outside the headquarters of the party in central Tirana and a smiling Basha told them he was happy about the victory but would wait for the final certification of the result by the election authorities.
"I am very happy tonight because all this battle was about listening to the voice of every citizen," Basha told the crowd. " This is the biggest victory."
The counting of votes on live television and the ensuing battle over every vote in the race for the Tirana mayorship has gripped the small Balkan nation and caused tension at the Central Election Commission when it was counting the miscast votes after opposition supporters gathered outside.
The debate has divided further the two main parties, the ruling Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the opposition Socialist Party of Edi Rama.
The Socialists have boycotted parliament in protest and could escalate their protest. The Socialists said the decision of the judges lacked a clear reasoning and they might appeal.
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