Political crisis in Albania: parliamentarians failing to elect president

The presidential election in Albania may fail for lack of candidates. The parliament convened for a special session to elect the president, but failed to do it for lack of candidates.

Parliamentarians are to set the date of the next extraordinary session. If they fail to choose the president within five rounds, the parliament will be dissolved. The president in Albania is elected by at least 84 votes of the total 140 parliamentarians.

Parliamentary Speaker Ilir Meta says the ruling Socialist Party deliberately refrains from nominating anyone for president to demonstrate its willingness to conduct a dialogue with the opposition over the next president and achieve a consensus with all political forces in the country. The opposition currently boycotts the parliament’s sessions demanding a transitional government and new elections.

Incumbent president Bujar Nishani was elected in 2012. He was nominated by Democratic Party of Albania. Previously, Nishani occupied the post of the interior minister. Under his presidency, in June 2014, Albania was awarded the status of a candidate country by the EU.