While the central election commission in Albania has not made any announcements, exit polls conducted by three firms appear to indicate a win for Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party. Hours after the polls closed, there is still no official announcement from election officials, but independent exit polls by US based Zogby, Italy's IPR Marketing and Kosovo based Gani Bobi all seemed to indicate that Prime Minister Sali Berisha was headed for another term. The projections from the three polls only differed slightly on the margin of Berisha's win. "I can't say that these elections were perfect, because no election process is perfect, but these elections were far better than any before." said Berisha once voting had concluded. Though the campaign had been marred by violence, including two deaths, the day passed without any of the problems that many had feared. Some voters also complained of pressure to sway their votes. Additionally, more than 200,000 of the 3 million voters had problems casting ballots because they did not have new identity cards.
Hours after the polls closed, there is still no official announcement from election officials, but independent exit polls by US based Zogby, Italy's IPR Marketing and Kosovo based Gani Bobi all seemed to indicate that Prime Minister Sali Berisha was headed for another term.
The projections from the three polls only differed slightly on the margin of Berisha's win.
"I can't say that these elections were perfect, because no election process is perfect, but these elections were far better than any before." said Berisha once voting had concluded.
Though the campaign had been marred by violence, including two deaths, the day passed without any of the problems that many had feared.
Some voters also complained of pressure to sway their votes. Additionally, more than 200,000 of the 3 million voters had problems casting ballots because they did not have new identity cards.
The two main rivals in Albania's closely fought general election have appealed for calm before results are announced on Monday. The poll is seen as crucial for the country's hopes of one day joining the European Union. AFP - Albanians face a tense wait Monday for results of closely fought general elections that passed off smoothly, a crucial improvement in a country where violence has marred post-communist polls. Exit polls from Sunday's elections gave a slight lead to the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, which his rival Edi Rama of the Socialist Party played down. Both appealed for calm until results are announced, but several dozen Berisha supporters gathered in front of his party's headquarters in the capital Tirana, some driving along streets honking car horns. "I call on Albanians to follow the results (of the ballot count) with maturity, without evoking ideas of those triumphing or those losing," said Berisha. His rival Rama, the mayor of Tirana, urged voters to "wait for the results and do not join in the game of (exit) polls as long as the process continues." "The real result is still in the ballot boxes, patience is needed," Rama stressed. Commission spokesman Leonard Olli said the official count would only begin as late as midnight. Preliminary official results are due to be announced at a media conference at 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Monday. Around 3.1 million voters were eligible for the election seen as crucial for the European future of the Balkan state. It comes almost three months after Albania joined the NATO military alliance and took its first steps towards joining the EU by filing for membership. Opinion polls had shown the race was too close to call between the governing Democratic Party of Berisha and Rama's opposition Socialist Party.
AFP - Albanians face a tense wait Monday for results of closely fought general elections that passed off smoothly, a crucial improvement in a country where violence has marred post-communist polls. Exit polls from Sunday's elections gave a slight lead to the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, which his rival Edi Rama of the Socialist Party played down. Both appealed for calm until results are announced, but several dozen Berisha supporters gathered in front of his party's headquarters in the capital Tirana, some driving along streets honking car horns. "I call on Albanians to follow the results (of the ballot count) with maturity, without evoking ideas of those triumphing or those losing," said Berisha. His rival Rama, the mayor of Tirana, urged voters to "wait for the results and do not join in the game of (exit) polls as long as the process continues." "The real result is still in the ballot boxes, patience is needed," Rama stressed. Commission spokesman Leonard Olli said the official count would only begin as late as midnight. Preliminary official results are due to be announced at a media conference at 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Monday. Around 3.1 million voters were eligible for the election seen as crucial for the European future of the Balkan state. It comes almost three months after Albania joined the NATO military alliance and took its first steps towards joining the EU by filing for membership. Opinion polls had shown the race was too close to call between the governing Democratic Party of Berisha and Rama's opposition Socialist Party.
