The formal Democratic Party (PD) has requested that the Central Election Commission inquire into the alleged past sentencing of Elton Bano, a mayoral candidate for the municipality of Lushnje.
Bano was put forward by the House of Freedom coalition, a political grouping established between the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) and a faction of the PD that don’t recognize current party leadership.
The formal PD accuses Bano of failing to declare a two-year sentence handed against him in Great Britain between 1998 and 2000.
Mayoral candidates are required by law to declare any previous sentence. Failure to do so results in disqualification from the race and possible criminal charges.
On Tuesday, Bano released a statement denying the accusations, saying he was never sentenced in any country
By-elections in six municipalities are scheduled to take place in Albania on March 6.
The ruling Socialist Party won local elections in 2019 in all 61 municipalities following a total boycott by the opposition boycott. However, in 6 constituencies its mayoral candidates were either found to have hidden their criminal past, passed away or resigned.
These by-elections are seen with no relevance from an administrative view point, given that the new mayors will stay in office for a year only. However, their political relevance is considered high by many, given the internal strife within the Democratic Party.
Many analysts see them as a battle between the two clashing PD groups to establish dominance and legitimacy with the opposition electorate.
