[ALBSA-Info] Albanians vote calmly in key election round

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

Albanians vote calmly in key election round

By Benet Koleka

  
TIRANA, July 8 (Reuters) - Albanians returned to the polls on Sunday for the 
crucial second round of parliamentary elections, which were largely free of 
incidents apart from opposition charges of voting irregularities. 

The second round of the elections, the first since the country plunged into 
anarchy in 1997 after the collapse of fraudulent investment schemes, appeared 
to be a facsimile of the first round which won praise from international 
observers. 

Election observers reported no incidents of violence after polling booths 
opened to 1.2 million eligible voters in this impoverished Balkan nation. 

"This is not much different than the first round," a Western diplomat told 
Reuters. "It seems it is going well, but not great." 

The ruling Socialist Party aims to strengthen its lead after winning 33 of 
100 seats under the first-past-the-post system against the 17 won by the 
opposition Democratic Party of former President Sali Berisha in the first 
round on June 24. 

In 44 constituencies where no overall winner emerged last time, the leading 
candidates -- Socialist and Democratic in every case -- are contesting the 
second round. Voting in one constituency is being repeated, and partial 
voting is taking place in four others. 

Berisha, who was ousted from power in 1997 in the chaos that followed the 
collapse of pyramid investment schemes, has complained of electoral 
irregularities, triggering concern he may not recognise the outcome. 

"I denounce the Albanian government which has blocked the election process in 
tens of constituencies from the (eastern) Devolli region to the (northern) 
Great Highlands region," Berisha said while casting his ballot. 

Albania's democratic credentials are still at stake in the second round, 
which will be closely watched by international monitors who said the first 
round marked progress towards meeting international election standards. 

"The voting process has failed in four constituencies because of infighting 
between the representatives of the political parties," the central election 
commission spokesman Aldrin Dalipi told Reuters. 

"However, the result of those four constituencies will not block the 
process," Dalipi said. Turnout was around 35 percent at 2:45 p.m. (1245 GMT). 

Voting at roughly 2,500 polling stations was expected to last until 6 p.m. 
(1600 GMT). Final official results are expected on Wednesday whereas 
unofficial results are expected later on Sunday or early on Monday. 

The ruling Socialists of Prime Minister Ilir Meta accused Democratic 
commissioners of blocking the voting process, while the Democrats charged 
that the Socialist government was using the police force to intimidate their 
supporters. 

The Interior Ministry said there was no pressure from the police, who had 
taken measures to prevent trouble in a country where some half a million 
guns, looted during the 1997 uprising, remain in private hands. 

"I call on the police force not to be discouraged by propaganda and to 
continue to behave correctly," General Police director Bilbil Mema told a 
news conference. 

To the relief of Albania's Western partners, the conflict in neighbouring 
Macedonia, where ethnic Albanian insurgents are battling government forces, 
and the wider concept of Greater Albania have not been election issues.