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Roundup: Albania's majority, opposition leaders fail to reach accord on solving political crisis

Xinhua, May 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

Albanian opposition leader Lulzim Basha and Prime Minister Edi Rama met Wednesday in a meeting brokered by the country's President Bujar Nishani but they failed to find a way out of the more-than-two-month-long political deadlock.

The talks between the majority and opposition leader lasted about three hours but didn't result in any real agreement that could prevent Albania from entering June 18 elections without the opposition parties' participation.

Although none of them made any official statement after the meeting, local media cited some confidential sources according to which opposition leader stood firm in the Democratic Party (DP)'s demand for resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and formation of a caretaker agreement. But Rama reiterated his stance against such requests.

In another press statement, Rama told reporters that he had offered the opposition the opportunity to monitor all the state structures. He also declared that he was open and ready to hold another round of talks with the head of opposition in order to reach a deal and make opposition join elections process on June 18.

Basha told reporters Wednesday that Rama remained the only obstacle to guaranteeing of the free and fair elections. Basha noted that DP would continue to stand firm in its request for the creation of a caretaker government as the only chance to have a democratic elections process.

Meantime, it should be noted that by midnight, all electoral deadlines for registration would be totally exhausted, as the Central Elections Commission had granted a three-day grace period.

The opposition has boycotted the parliament since February, calling for Socialist Prime Minister to step down and for the creation of a caretaker government that would see the parliamentary elections.

DP and smaller parties in opposition have also threatened to escalate protest and start civil disobedience starting with the by-mayoral elections in city of Kavaja on May 7. Endit