This morning at 09:00 the Democratic Party handed in its final candidate lists for the parliamentary elections. The Central Election Commission (KQZ) postponed the deadline twice, after the PD had failed to deliver complete and fully documented lists on Friday and Monday.
The KQZ is expected to approve the final lists today and publish the order of the political parties on the voting ballot, which will be determined by lot.
Since the first lists of the PD were published on Friday night, several candidates have decided to withdraw.
Ramiz Çobaj, head of the PD in Shkodra and nr. 8 on the Shkodra list, decided to leave the race because of his low ranking. According to Çobaj there are people on the Shkodra list who have made no contribution to the PD.
In the same county, and at an eligible position, Helidon Bushati withdrew from the elections. In his place, the PD has placed Bardh Spahia, who was previously ranked at nr. 6.
Secretary-General of the PD in Elbasan, Bledi Himci, withdraw from the candidate list in the same county. He was placed at nr. 8, nearly certainly an ineligible place. In 2013, the PD won only mandates in Elbasan. Himci accused PD leader Lulzim Basha that he placed people on the Elbasan County candidate list who have no connection with and never contributed to Elbasan.
Yesterday, also PLL leader Sulejman Gjana declared his withdrawal. He considered his placement as nr. 4 on the Dibra list to be an insult to the Legality Movement.
Also Sazan Guri, leader of the Green Party and ally of the PD, gave up his ineligible place as nr. 5 on the Berat list.
Finally, Preç Zogaj expressed his unhappiness with his nr. 5 position on the Lezha list, as it is unlikely that the PD will win 5 mandates in this county. On the final list handed in today, he moved to nr. 4.
