Albanien

The EU ambassador to Tirana said the European Commission is examining legislation backed by Albania’s government that would make it possible to impose large fines on online media, which critics describe as an attack on freedom of speech.

Albania has avoided clashes during municipal elections amid high tensions between the ruling and opposition parties and a tug-of-war between the prime minister and president. However, turnout was said to be low, raising further questions about their legitimacy inside the Balkan country.

Albania’s 30 June local elections were held with little regard for the interests of the voters in a climate of political standoff, said observers with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in a preliminary statement of their findings. The opposition decided not to participate, but the government was determined to hold the elections regardless.

President’s call for negotiations on the crisis over the June 30 local elections failed on Thursday, after Prime Minister Edi Rama refused to attend talks, saying he was too busy canvassing.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says he will press on with local elections planned at the end of the month, setting up a clash with President Ilir Meta, who canceled the vote amid security concerns.

Albania's parliament has started the procedure to oust President Ilir Meta for violating the constitution with his attempt to cancel upcoming municipal elections.

Albania's president says he is canceling upcoming municipal elections, asserting that conditions for a democratic vote are not present -- a move immediately rejected by the country's prime minister. President Ilir Meta on June 8 said he called off the election because "the actual circumstances do not provide necessary conditions for true, democratic, representative, and all-inclusive elections," which had been set for June 30.

Supporters of the Albanian opposition tried to storm the parliament during a protest demanding the government's resignation and early elections.

Sixty-five opposition lawmakers resigned from parliament ahead of protests calling for the government to step down. The EU warned against a repeat of weekend violence and called the resignations damaging to democracy.