ALBANIA: Democratic Party celebrates election victory, opposition says still too early

Record ID: 559891

  • Title: ALBANIA: Democratic Party celebrates election victory, opposition says still too early
  • Date: 17th June 2009
  • Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (JUNE 29, 2009) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PD) SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING VICTORY BY DRIVING AND WAVING FLAGS IN DOWNTOWN TIRANA CAR COVERED IN ALBANIAN AND DP FLAGS PD SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS MAN SHOWING "V" SIGN BY FLASHING TWO FINGERS AT OTHER PD SUPPORTERS MORE OF PEOPLE DRIVING WAVING FLAGS SOCIALIST PARTY HEADQUARTERS / SOCIALIST PARTY SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) HEAD OF SOCIALIST PARTY, EDI RAMA, SAYING: "We need to guarantee the process. It is more important than what unfortunately is happening now based on numbers that are beyond ridiculous. In fact that would be a reason for a big laugh if the situation wasn't this serious." TIRANA, ALBANIA (JUNE 28, 2009) (REUTERS) COUNTING CENTRE IN TIRANA POLICE GUARDING BALLOT COUNTING CENTRE MAN CARRYING BALLOT BOX INSIDE POLICE ANOTHER BOX BEING CARRIED IN THE COUNTING CENTRE HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND PRIME MINISTER SALI BERISHA TALKING IN A NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER AND THE HEAD OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SALI BERISHA, SAYING: "I can't say, but if it comes to that I would call and congratulate him." BERISHA LEAVING TIRANA, ALBANIA (JUNE 29, 2009) (REUTERS) SUPPORTERS OF PD CHEERING AS THE EXIT POLLS RESULTS ARE BEING ANNOUNCED OUTSIDE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HEADQUARTERS SCREEN SHOWING PD VICTORY PEOPLE CHEERING "BERISHA" ANIMATION ON THE SCREEN SHOWING VICTORY FOR PD PEOPLE CHEERINGS
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1G5CBMXC8I1YNUAW5EI3838JS
  • Story Text: Albania's ruling Democrats appeared poised for victory on Sunday, according to exit polls, in an election the government, opposition and international observers said was fair.
    The American Zogby International agency projected that Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his Democratic Party will gain 69 seats, short of the 71 needed for a majority, compared to 55 for the Socialists led by Edi Rama, mayor of the capital Tirana.
    According to another exit poll projected by "Gani Bobi" Berisha will win 76 seats, causing the Democratic Party supporters to take the streets of Tirana to celebrate.
    They drove along the streets honking horns, waving flags and cheering loudly.
    But the Socialist Party said it is too early to concede defeat.
    "We need to guarantee the process. It is more important than what unfortunately is happening now based on numbers that are beyond ridiculous. In fact that would be a reason for a big laugh if the situation wasn't this serious," said Edi Rama the head of the Socialist Party.
    An exit poll of 6,000 voters for the Ora News channel by the Italian firm IPR marketing found the ruling centre-right Democrats gaining 46 to 49 percent of the national vote, with the Socialists bringing in 41 to 45 percent.
    Another exit poll by a Kosovo pollster put the Democrats in front by 50 to 43 percent. But exit polls are new in Albania, and the pollsters themselves are unsure how reliable they are.
    In a news conference Berisha was asked what he would do if it turns out that his opponent wins.
    Asked if he would call to congratulate Rama said, " I can't say, but if it comes to that I would call and congratulate him."
    Rama said he did not believe exit polls were reliable, because of intimidation during the campaign.
    Europe's main human rights and security watchdog, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said the vote was mostly orderly, although the main parties had earlier in the day accused each other of manipulation.
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