France congratulates Albanian PM, but expressed concern about violent incidents

France on Thursday congratulated newly-appointed Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, whose Socialist-led coalition came to power after sometimes-violent Albanian legislative elections.

But Paris expressed concern to Tirana about “certain violent incidents” that took place during the election campaign, although the French Foreign Ministry conceded that the elections took place in a proper way, “in a general manner.” Nonetheless, the French authorities said that they wanted the judicial authorities in the Muslim country “to rapidly identify those responsible” for the election violence.

One candidate was shot dead and at least one other person was wounded in a shootout in Tirana three days ago during voting.