Albania

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.