Albania: Public officials try to block election preparation

SManalysis

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted Jun 18, 2019 7:04 am PDT

A demonstrator waves the Albanian national flag during an anti-government protest in Tirana, Albania, Saturday, June 8, 2019. Thousands of Albanian opposition supporters are gathering in an anti-government protest while the United States and the European Union caution their leaders to disavow violence and sit in a dialogue to overcome the political crisis. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
TIRANA, Albania — Public officials in some parts of Albania aren’t co-operating with the election workers assigned to prepare for local elections at the end of the month.

The apparent disruption in regional districts governed by opposition parties are part of a political crisis within the national government.

The Albanian Interior Ministry says regional officials in Shkodra tried to prevent election personnel from entering their offices on Monday.

Civilian supporters of the opposition stormed the Tropoja election authority office in northeastern Albania on Tuesday.

President Ilir Meta tried to cancel Albania’s June 30 municipal elections, saying they would be “undemocratic” without opposition participation. Center-right opposition parties are boycotting the vote after months of demanding an early national election.

The Socialist-led government said the president exceeded his constitutional authority and is trying to oust Meta.


The Associated Press