Albania Ready to Choose New Parliament

A number of observers from ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Europe, along with groups from various embassies, will closely follow the performance on the day of the vote.

The international community has been paying attention to recent developments, repeating calls for the need for a fair process, requiring restraint and calm from political parties.

There are nearly 3 million and 600 thousand Albanians registered on voter lists for the election of the country's new parliament.

For the first time, a biometric identification system will be implemented at nearly 5 thousand and 200 polling stations throughout the country.

While in an area of the capital, it will be piloted and voting and counting electronic votes.

Today it is electoral silence and when they spend only a few hours from the start of the vote, State Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi said preparations of the election process have been going smoothly and there is no reason for all polling stations to be fully ready tomorrow, starting at 7am.

In these elections, except for the party, citizens will be able to choose their favourite candidate, Voa reports.

Beyond often charged political rhetoric, Wednesday's worst incident remains in Elbasan, where a shootout between supporters of the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party ended with the use of weapons. One person was killed and four others injured.

Recent days have added charges on cases of vote buying. Two men were arrested yesterday in Debar.

Today another was banned in the capital, while one of the SIS candidates has been declared on the run.

Celibashi recalled today that the law envisions serious sanctions for trading the vote.

The voting process will be closely followed tomorrow by 42 long-term ODIHR monitors, while another 215 members of the O parliamentary Assembly. The SEU and the Council of Europe, and staffs of a large number of embassies will be distributed throughout the country.

The international community has been paying attention to developments, related to the election process.

European Union Delegation Ambassador Louis Soreca in his message the previous day stressed that the manner of holding these elections and respecting their outcome will depend on the country's performance in the European integration process.

From the United States, the heads of the Foreign Commission in both the Senate and the House of Representatives urged Albanian authorities to ensure, that voters will be able to cast their votes “free from trading, intimidation and violence”, saying they expect the “that all leaders currently in office and those hoping to be elected to act in line with democratic principles”.

American Ambassador Yuri Kim, has also been very active. She met with opposition Chairman Lulzim Basha today, while in a tweet post explained that in the past 48 hours she had met with Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Ilir Meta.

She underlined that the United States does not support any party or candidate, but that it supports the right of all citizens to vote free and at peace.

Last night, she rejected President Meta's statements on Twitter for the use of axes and axes by citizens, viewing them unacceptable and punishable.

Ambassador Kim stressed that those who promote violence will be responsible for the outcome of their words and actions.

President Meta responded by urging Prime Minister Rama no longer to take revenge and stop interfering with Albania's internal affairs unilaterally.