Albania: Election exit by 12: 00, about 22 percent

Albania's Central Election Commission says the electoral process is taking place normally and that the exit to the polls by 12:00 is 22.61 per cent.

This is a decline compared to past parliamentary elections, when voting at the same time was 27.24 percent.

In this election where Albanian exiles will first vote as well as face outgoing Prime Minister Edi Rama, and his bitter opponent, Sali Berisha, a rightist politician who heads an alliance of opposition parties.

The polling stations opened at 7:00 and will be closed at 7:00.

Central Election Commission head Ilirjan Celibashi said at a press conference that the voting process has begun normally and is also being followed normally, despite some isolated problems, Albanian Radio Television (RTSH) reported.

“in the total process can be estimated to have started normally and is continuing normally. There's a report that's being claimed for voter orientation. There are reports on the presence of candidates for MPs near polling stations and addressed a public call. Candidates for MPs cannot be observers at polling stations. As far as electronic voting is concerned, reports show that the process is normally continuing”, Celibashi said.

Citizens of Albania, a country of 2.8 million, will elect 140 deputies for a four-year term, choosing from 2,046 candidates representing 11 political groups, including three coalitions.

Voter rights in this election have around 3.7 million registered voters, including those from the diaspora.

This year's elections are seen as crucial to measuring the country's democratic development and determining its major goal for a European future. / REL/Periscopi/