Parliament commission questions Albanian president in impeachment process

Parliament commission questions Albanian president in impeachment process
By bne IntelliNews September 9, 2019

An Albanian parliamentary commission questioned the country’s President Ilir Meta on September 9, as part of proceedings for his dismissal after he tried to cancel the June 30 local elections.

The proceedings to impeach Meta were initiated by the governing Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, the first such move in post-communist Albania. Despite the cancelation by the president the Socialists conducted the local vote, which is seen as illegitimate by the opposition.

The parliament's inquiry commission invited Meta for questioning to verify the legality of his cancelation of the June 30 local vote and setting October 13 as a new election date.

Meta explained that he cancelled the elections because in his opinion they would be undemocratic without the participation of opposition parties which planned a boycott, and that he also feared violent clashes and tensions during the vote.

Meta emphasised his role as guarantor of the Constitution, underlining the right of citizens to vote and to have alternatives to elections, the parliament said, quoting the president. 

The president also said he set a new election date for October 13 as the date guarantees the participation of all parties.

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