Albania’s socialists threaten street protests after election defeat

TIRANA,

Albania’s opposition Socialists are threatening to hold street protests after election authorities declared Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democrats had won enough seats in last weekend’s election to form a government.

The Central Elections Commission says Democrats won 46.69 percent, giving them 71 seats in the 140-seat parliament, the exact number needed to form a government.

It says Tirana Mayor Edi Rama’s opposition Socialists have 45.36 percent. But authorities are re-counting the ballots from some polling stations following complaints about procedures there.

The Socialists insist final results have yet to be calculated, and dispute that the Democrats have won 71 seats. On Saturday, they threatened demonstrations.