Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha has repeated today his party’s determination not to participate in the municipal and mayoral elections with Edi Rama as Prime Minister of Albania. Basha also said there will be no elections in a country without punishing first the thieves of votes in the elections of 2016-2017, referring to two of Rama’s closest accomplices, Durrës Mayor Vangjush Dakod and former minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri.

During the presentation of the Platform for New Elections, Basha explained the opposition decided to make that step “because it is quite clear there will be no elections with Edi Rama as Prime Minister. Elections without the opposition will not happen. Elections without the opposition are farcical”.

“We will not allow crime to conduct elections in Albania any more. The elections will take place only after the thieves of votes in 2016 and 2017 are punished”, the Democrat leader said, adding the elections can never be free and fair with Rama, Dako and Gjinushi, seeing a transitional government as the only solution to the political crisis.