The Albanian opposition parties have required from the Central Electoral Commission (KQZ) to start procedures for the elections of local government of October 13 as set by President Ilir Meta’s Decree.

The opposition boycotted the elections of June 30 which were postponed by President Meta but the ruling Socialist Party decided to go ahead, despite the President set another date, October 13.

“There is a fundamental distinction between the constitutional right and the party right”, Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha said after a meeting with fellow chairpersons of the opposition parties.

“The only act with constitutional power related to the elections is the President’s Decree for the conduction of elections on October 13. This is an undisputable and inevitable obligation for KQZ and the other state institutions that prepare the elections infrastructure”.

Despite asking from KQZ to comply with the Presidential Decree, the opposition parties will boycott the October 13 elections too unless Albanian Premier Edi Rama steps down. The opposition has repeatedly said Rama’s resignation is a nonnegotiable condition for their participation in the elections.

“The political parties have their rights to participate or not in the elections”, Basha said today.