Concerns Raised Over Himare Election Integrity by Greek Minority

himere

Diplomatic sources have voiced serious concerns regarding the integrity of the recent repeat municipal elections in Himare, Albania, following complaints from members of the Greek ethnic minority.

The sources highlighted issues such as alleged voter list manipulation and the denial of voting rights to thousands of citizens due to expired IDs.

The complaints suggest that the electoral process was compromised, particularly noting that approximately 6,000 voters were unable to cast their ballots because their identification cards were not renewed, a provision allowed in previous elections. Opposition groups have echoed these concerns, asserting that democratic values and European standards necessitate a thorough investigation and response from Albanian authorities.

In the contested election, the ruling Socialist Party candidate Vangjel Tavo secured 58.62% of the vote, defeating Petraq Gjikuria, who garnered 41.38%. Tavo expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Edi Rama and extended an invitation to Gjikuria to serve as deputy mayor.

Fredi Beleri, another candidate, has accused Prime Minister Rama of manipulating the election by disenfranchising voters with expired IDs, further fuelling doubts about the election's fairness.