ALBANIA: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORTERS CLAIM VICTORY IN COUNTRY'S GENERAL ELECTION

Record ID: 566200

  • Title: ALBANIA: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORTERS CLAIM VICTORY IN COUNTRY'S GENERAL ELECTION
  • Date: 3rd July 2005
  • Summary: (BN2) TIRANA, ALBANIA (JULY 04, 2005) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) 1. VARIOUS OF P.D. (Democratic party) SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING IN FRONT OF P.D. HEADQUARTERS IN TIRANA (4 SHOTS) 0.19 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALI BERISHA, OPPOSITION LEADER, SAYING: "It seams that it would be a large victory, this is the perception, these are the first preliminary data, but I still told my supporters, I pledge them times ago, that the victory will be treated with modesty". 0.45 3. VARIOUS OF THE PROCEDURES IN ONE OF COUNTING BALLOT CENTERS (8 SHOTS) 1.24 (BN15) TIRANA, ALBANIA (JULY 3, 2005)(REUTERS) 4. VARIOUS OF THE A MEMBER OF COMMISSION SHOWING A BALLOT BOX SEAL (2 SHOTS) 1.33 5. VARIOUS OF PROCESS OF SEALING A BALLOT BOX (2 SHOTS) 1.41 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 18th July 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TIRANA, ALBANIA
  • Country: Albania
  • Reuters ID: LVA26DJHQBZUH6SZ5VWKTTO75DZR
  • Story Text: The main opposition party celebrates victory in
    Albania's general elections.



    Albanians turned out in force on Sunday (July 3) for
    an election watched closely by the West for evidence of the
    democratic maturity the country must show in order to
    advance towards membership of the European Union and NATO.

    Voting started strongly in the morning and polling
    stations stayed open beyond the official 7 p.m. (1700 GMT)
    close to accommodate a last-minute rush as daytime heat
    abated.

    Officials said turnout was likely to exceed the 56
    percent mark seen in 2001.

    There were no reports of the sort of political violence
    that has marred previous Albanian elections. But the two
    main parties were cautioned for claiming victory with hours
    of balloting still to go.

    Albania has no history of reliable exit polling.

    President Alfred Moisiu urged media not to make projections
    of the results in case hasty celebrations were dashed later
    by official results, prompting claims of cheating and
    possible violence.

    But one private TV channel predicted on the basis of
    exit polls in 15 constituencies out of 100 that the
    opposition Democratic Party of ex-president Sali Berisha
    looked likely to defeat the Socialists of Prime Minister
    Fatos Nano.

    The channel stressed its forecast might not be reliable.

    Moisiu also condemned the rivals' premature victory
    claims as "contrary to the ethics code they signed and risk
    damaging the vote-counting and consequently the final
    results".



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