The ruling left-wing coalition of Prime Minister Edi Rama won local elections in Albania, according to the results announced Tuesday by the electoral commission.
The Socialist-led coalition won 46 out of 61 towns, results showed after 98 percent of votes were counted, the commission said.
"These elections confirmed huge support to the ruling coalition and provide an impetus to continue reforms already launched," Rama said Tuesday.
About 48 percent of 3.3 million eligible voters turned out to elect mayors and councillors in 61 municipalities in the Balkan nation, where elections since the fall of communism in the early 1990s have often been marred by violence and accusations of fraud.
"The local elections were the most free and fair, the best that Albania organised in its history," Rama said.
Albania's main opposition Democratic Party cried foul right after polling stations closed on Sunday, condemning what it called voting "irregularities".
Albania obtained EU candidate status a year ago and hopes to open accession talks by the end of the year.
The ruling left-wing coalition of Prime Minister Edi Rama won local elections in Albania, according to the results announced Tuesday by the electoral commission.
The Socialist-led coalition won 46 out of 61 towns, results showed after 98 percent of votes were counted, the commission said.
“These elections confirmed huge support to the ruling coalition and provide an impetus to continue reforms already launched,” Rama said Tuesday.
About 48 percent of 3.3 million eligible voters turned out to elect mayors and councillors in 61 municipalities in the Balkan nation, where elections since the fall of communism in the early 1990s have often been marred by violence and accusations of fraud.
“The local elections were the most free and fair, the best that Albania organised in its history,” Rama said.
Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party cried foul right after polling stations closed on Sunday, condemning what it called voting “irregularities”.
Albania obtained EU candidate status a year ago and hopes to open accession talks by the end of the year.
