Ex-Communists Confirmed as Victors in Albania; Ruling Party Rally Fizzles
This country’s ex-Communist Socialists were confirmed Saturday as winners of crucial elections, and the defeated Democratic Party of President Sali Berisha failed to rally its supporters at the funeral of a dead colleague.
With only 41 out of the 155 seats still to be decided after last weekend’s first round, the Central Electoral Commission said the Socialists had won more than 80 seats, with more expected, giving them a comfortable majority.
Earlier Saturday, the Democrats called on their supporters to join an evening march through central Tirana with the body of the dead man, raising the prospect of further violence in a country that has been torn apart in recent months.
The man, described as a Democratic Party supporter in his early 20s, was killed Thursday when shooting broke out during a rally by royalists called to protest against alleged vote-rigging in a referendum last Sunday that rejected a return of the monarchy.
However, only about 300 supporters heeded the call.
The Democrats and monarchists appear to be working together since both were defeated in their respective plebiscites.
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