Counting is underway for the mayoral by-elections of March 6 and the Socialist Party (PS) candidates are leading by a landslide in five out of six municipalities.
The Central Election Commission has already declared the PS candidate as the winner for the municipality of Vorë, receiving 69% of the votes.
PS candidates are also leading in Dibër (62%), Durrës (58%), Lushnje (58%), and Rrogozhine (60%).
While Shkodra, historically a Democratic Party (PD) stronghold is so far, in the hands of ‘House of Freedom’ (SHL) candidate Bardh Spahia, backed by former prime minister, president and PD leader Sali Berisha in coalition with LSI.
So far, the official Democratic Party led by Lulzim Basha suffered crushing defeats in all six.
Some 30% of 654,538 eligible voters participated in yesterday’s mayoral by-elections. Elections took place with few interruptions, caused mainly by bad weather and problems with electronic voting devices.
Mayors are expected to stay in office for roughly 16 months as the next local elections are scheduled for June 2023.
