Albanian authorities have started counting votes for the country’s general election, marred by gunfire at a polling station on Sunday which left one dead and two others wounded, APA reports quoting Xinhua. According to the latest data from the Central Election Commission, 226 ballot boxes out 1,422 in total in the region of Tirana have been counted, while similar progress was underway across the country. Preliminary results were expected later on Monday, whereas the official results are not expected to be announced until Tuesday. The Democratic Party has called on all political parties to proceed with calm and not to block the counting process.
“No political force should block process, because citizens want to see their votes counted in an accurate and rapid way,” said DP lawmaker Gerti Bogdani in press conference.
Sunday’s turnout was 53 percent of some 3.27 million registered voters, according to the Central Election Commission.
Initial exit poll indicated a narrow lead for the opposition Socialist Party-led coalition of Edi Rama, who is running against Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic party.
Both claimed victory after polls closed Sunday evening.
Full Article: APA – Albania starts counting votes in general election.
