In half the contests, the boycott led by the main opposition Democratic Party will leave the candidate from Prime Minister Edi Rama’s ruling Socialist Party running unopposed. Do not fall prey to the provocations for violence!”Democratic Party supporters were accused last week of vandalizing polling stations, located mostly in schools, and torching election equipment. Opposition parties have called the election a throwback to the Communist era, when the ruling party held uncontested elections to confirm its 45-year grip on power. To lampoon the voting on Sunday, some Democratic Party supporters played music in the streets and at voting centers, even ironically chanting the name of late dictator Enver Hoxha. Socialist candidates are running unopposed in 31 races, including in the big towns of Elbasan and Gjirokaster, while in 24 they face candidates from a newly-formed splinter group from the main opposition Democratic Party.

Source: National Post June 30, 2019 10:18 UTC