Democratic Party members voteing this Saturday for their new leader

Democratic Party members vote this Saturday for their new leader. Voteing centers are open for Democratic Party members throughout Albania at 8 am and closes at 19 pm, according to DP’s announcement. Operational Election Commission has concluded the delivery and submission of election material in all commissions set up across the country to elect the leader of the Democrats in Albania and polling process has kicked off to elect the new leader of the Party in 73 poll stations opened in 68 DP branches in the districts. The frozen Democrat leader, Lulzim Basha and candidate Eduard Selami are just those two names in list of the ballot paper. Every member will have the chance to vote for the candidate who will lead their party in the next four years. Over 103,952 Democrats are expected to vote for the leader of Albania’s biggest opposition party, but 500 of whom have gone to other parties and 1,500 have not refreshed their membership cards. The chairman's election is based on the principle, “One member, one vote”. The Election Operation Commission (EOC) informed that the process started normally in every poll station opened. The voting process follows an intensive campaign conducted by two candidates running for this post. For opinion of Eduart Selami, Basha only wants to keep his post after a humiliating defeat in the June 25th parliamentary elections. “This is an unequal race and it cannot produce a fair result. Selami said during his campaign that Basha did not keep his promise to hold debates during this race. “We discussed to have debates and we even thought about appointing a moderator. He didn’t keep this promise and didn’t even allow media outlets to enter the meetings. Basha refused debate but behind closed doors we have made very harsh debates”, Selami added. Selemi said that he guarantees unification in the Democratic Party, and that his model has wide support, even from groups who are against the race. “Patozi and the others who are against the race have nothing against me, nothing against my mdoel. They support me and they tell me I cannot win”, he added. While the frozen Democrat leader, Lulzim Basha, at the same time one of the candidates running for partys chair position, declared that the electoral process will unify this political force. “I am confident that we will come out of these elections stronger that before. Our unification will turn DP into the only political force that represents Albanians hopes, said Basha after casting the vote in DP headquarters. DP is facing a crisis, after Lulzim Basha froze his functions as party chairman and the two deputy chairmen were charged with organizing the elections. Of the five official candidates three were later disqualified, including current deputy Astrit Patozi. Both candidates have been making appearances together throughout the country, debating the future of the PD after its historic loss during the general elections. Meanwhile, Patozi, who failed to secure a seat in the new legislature, has announced a new “movement” within the party, called “Movement for the Reconstruction of the DP,” which includes current PD deputies Eleina Qirici, Gjergji Papa, and Ridvan Bode. None of them is expected to return to Parliament after August, but and other historic name in DP as Besnik Mustafaj etc.