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Albanian government calls no-confidence vote in president

Posted June 10, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

TIRANA, Albania (AP) - Albania's governing Socialist Party has called a no-confidence vote in the president, saying it was unconstitutional for him to cancel upcoming municipal elections.

Socialists' spokeswoman Elisa Spiropali on Monday said the vote would be held at Thursday's parliamentary session.

President Ilir Meta decided to cancel the June 30 municipal elections, saying they would be "undemocratic" and that he feared social tensions.

Opposition parties have boycotted the municipal elections and are threatening to prevent them from taking place. They have been holding protests accusing the government of links to organized crime and demanding a new general election.

Prime Minister Edi Rama denies the allegations, and insists the municipal elections will go ahead.

The Socialists need 94 votes to succeed in ousting Meta which they don't have in the 140-seat parliament.

Albanian President Ilir Meta speaks during a news conference in capital Tirana, Albania on Monday June 10, 2019. Albania's president says he has canceled upcoming municipal elections fearing a âsocial tension.â Ilir Meta said holding elections without the opposition would be âundemocraticâ and would âfreeze the countryâs integration.â (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) The Associated Press

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