Albania

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.