OSCE observers launch mission for Albania's June 23 parliamentary election


The Associated Press
| May 15, 2013

TIRANA, Albania - Electoral observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have launched their monitoring mission for Albania's June 23 national polls.

Previous elections in Albania have been marred by violence, vote-rigging and intimidation.

The first 15-member OSCE team is in the capital Tirana, and up to 400 more short-term observers will arrive just before the parliamentary election, mission head Conny McCormack said Wednesday.

Some 3.3 million registered voters will elect 140 legislators for a four-year term. The two main parties are conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party and the Socialist Party of Edi Rama.