Commitment to Democracy Tested

Albanians started voting in local elections seen by the West as a fresh test of the Balkan nation’s commitment to democracy five months after a controversial general election was marred by allegations of vote-rigging and intimidation. Candidates from 26 parties were fighting for influence in 64 town councils, 36 district councils and 310 communes. Only the opposition Socialists, reformed heirs of the Communists, could really expect to challenge the grip on power of President Sali Berisha’s ruling Democratic Party of Albania, which was strengthened by the disputed general election.