Albania Braces for Elections Amid Fears of Violence

An unknown number of Albanians will go to the polls this Sunday to elect 61 Mayors and 1,590 members of local councils in the most contested elections held in the country since the collapse of Communism almost three decades ago.

While about 3.5 million Albanians are on the electoral roll, the actual turnout is hard to call, as all the main opposition parties, including the Democratic Party and Socialist Movement for Integration, have boycotted the elections - citing alleged collusion between the Socialist-led government of Edi Rama and organized crime networks in past elections.

Despite the boycott, about 36 parties are competing in the elections. However, in 31 out of 61 municipalities, only Socialist Party candidates are standing.

Fears for violence remain high. Ahead of the vote, opposition supporters in the town of Bushat, about 80 km north of Tirana, burned down the municipal election centre.

Prime Minister Rama promptly fired of the longstanding mayor, Zef Hila, accusing him or orchestrating the violence. Hila denied responsibility.

"I was not been present at the protest, and I urge the authorities to promptly prosecute those responsible," he told BIRN over the telephone.

Albania's Western allies have called for restraint on all sides, urging the opposition parties not to use violence and warning their own citizens about possible security risks.

The German embassy said it called on all parties "to actively contribute to stopping any kind of violence. It is of vital importance that the elections are conducted freely. In this context, the opposition parties have an obligation."

President Ilir Meta ordered the postponement of the elections for 13 October, but the government has ignored this, while the US and...