CEC pull down Meta: Invalid decree, elections will take place on June 30th.

The four members elected by the Socialist Party in the Central Election Commission have declared in the CEC that the president's decree is invalid and as such, they have followed the normal meeting of this institution.

The same statement was made by CEC deputy chairman Denar Biba, who said the president's act to annul elections is invalid.

Once he knew of the decree coming, we decided to postpone it by two hours to analyze it. There's no hierarchy between us and the president. We're different organs. The president has issued a decree on holding elections “elections to be held on June 30th 2019”. The electoral code details that the election date is determined by the president of the Republic, elections are held simultaneously throughout the country's territory. Today, just 20 days before the election date, the president decides to abolish the election annulment decree. This second decree is an invalid act according to the civil procedure code. Virtually today's decree conflicts with the principle of legitimacy that public organs exercise duties within their flocks. The release of the decree is within the president's covers, but it cannot cancel or set an election date at all. After canceling the June 30th elections, Albania is today without an election date. Leaving the country without an election date, the president refuses to fulfill the obligation the public body has been given to exercise. Repowering the decree is an open violation because it leaves the country without an election date. I appreciate that the CEC has the obligation to continue with the election organisation on June 30th“, Biba said.

The Socialists have started today collecting signatures for the dismissal of President Ilir Meta, following the joy he made for the date of local elections.

President Ilir Meta explained today the reasons he cancelled the June 30th elections. In a statement to the media, Meta said the head of state could not allow farce elections and without opposition participation.

This Meta decision was taken on Saturday shortly before the start of the opposition protest to bring about the change of the political situation course in the country.

The opposition welcomed the decision, while the SP has officially launched procedures to dismiss Meta through a resolution.