Resignation crisis at CEC

The situation that has been created at the Central Election Commission, after the resignation of the opposition members, was discussed today between the Socialist Party leader, Edi Rama, and all EU diplomats and vice ambassadors accredited in Albania.

While the Parliament was discussing the political crisis, the ambassadors visited the Socialist Party to learn about their views on the situation.

SP sources say that the conversation between Edi Rama and the diplomatic body focused on the recent situation created with the replacement of a CEC member by the government, thanks to three votes given by three former SP members. Rama expressed the opposition's concerns regarding the lack of legitimacy at CEC.

Diplomatic sources say for Top Channel that the SP leader declared that the opposition is unable to replace the CEC members for as long that the Central Election Commission is not legitimate. The ambassadors gave no details about the meeting, but they said that it was about the situation at CEC and the politics in general.

While the EU ambassador, Ettore Sequi, underlined that he hoped that a solution will be found soon for this situation.

Rama: Returning legitimacy to CEC

After meeting with the EU diplomats, the Socialist leader, Edi Rama, met with two rapporteurs of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly.

Rama declared for the media that the opposition wants the return of legitimacy at the Central Election Commission, to give the June 23rd elections the decency that the Albanian people deserves.

"CEC was blown to pieces, and as for us, Berisha can take CEC at his house, and still he won't be a problem for us. This is a problem for the Albanian society and the Albanian people after June 23rd, when despite the fact that we will win, this country will be stained in front of our international partners, with the shame that this majority that is not a real majority caused to this country", Rama declared.

Rama declared that the request to return legitimacy to CEC aims to divide the electoral process from the panic that has now taken the Prime Minister and his family party.

"The solution is well determined by the Electoral Code, the document that makes the rules of the game. It was written and approved with a consensus, which has now been violated completely. The Code clearly states that CEC is not an instrument of the Parliament", Rama declared.

The SP leader declared that with free and fair elections, in full accordance with the international standards, Albania will leave the map of hybrid regimes, and the list of countries that have nothing in common with the Democratic world.