Albanians vote Sunday in legislative elections seen as critical for the EU membership aspirations of one of Europe's poorest countries. The EU has indicated that progress toward membership depends on peaceful elections. AFP - Albanians go to the polls on Sunday for legislative elections seen as crucial for the European future of the country, with polls showing the two main rivals neck and neck. Some 3.1 million voters are being asked to elect 140 parliamentary deputies for a four-year mandate in the election -- the seventh since the fall of communism in the 1990s -- choosing among 4,000 candidates representing 39 parties and coalitions. Polls are to open at 7 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and close 12 hours later. Various surveys have put Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democrats and Edi Rama's opposition Socialists close in the polls, seen as key to the country's hopes of joining the European Union.
AFP - Albanians go to the polls on Sunday for legislative elections seen as crucial for the European future of the country, with polls showing the two main rivals neck and neck. Some 3.1 million voters are being asked to elect 140 parliamentary deputies for a four-year mandate in the election -- the seventh since the fall of communism in the 1990s -- choosing among 4,000 candidates representing 39 parties and coalitions. Polls are to open at 7 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and close 12 hours later. Various surveys have put Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democrats and Edi Rama's opposition Socialists close in the polls, seen as key to the country's hopes of joining the European Union.
Sunday's vote in the former communist state will be closely monitored by some 400 foreign observers, especially since it is considered a key test for Albania's European Union membership bid. Ahead of Albania's parliamentary elections, both US and EU diplomats urged the small Balkan state to hold fair elections and clear the path for closer links with the West. "Anything less than that would be a step back," the American ambassador to Tirana John Withers warned. "In all the previous elections, the required standards were not met. The manipulating practices of the past should not be repeated."
Ahead of Albania's parliamentary elections, both US and EU diplomats urged the small Balkan state to hold fair elections and clear the path for closer links with the West.
"Anything less than that would be a step back," the American ambassador to Tirana John Withers warned. "In all the previous elections, the required standards were not met. The manipulating practices of the past should not be repeated."
