Bujar Nishani new President of the Republic of Albania

The DP Minister of the Interiors Bujar Nishani is elected the President of Albania as the only 73 of the 140 voted in his favor as the opposition did not vote in bloc. Apart from Kastriot Islami all the other opposition members did not vote at all since the SP had constantly declared they would not vote a partisan candidate. After the negotiations which took place on Sunday, the majority had proposed Artan Hoxha, an analyst, but he pulled out early on Monday as he ‘could not bear the storm’ the process was evolving to.

The leader of the Socialist Party Edi Rama did not comment immediately but his previous statements on the process and election signals that Nishani could have been what Rama categorically rejected as a unilateral candidate who represents only the Democratic Party. The SP did not propose a candidate of its own but said it was willing to back a consensual figure embodying the unity of the nation. Fatos Nano, the other candidate was not backed by the SP as Idrizi, present at the negotiation table on Sunday, said on Monday that he had proposed Nano but the SP rejected it on spot.

The troika of ambassadors had called for a consensual president and US Ambassador Arvizu and EU counterpart Ettore Sequi did not even attend the voting session at the parliament which was attended by the OSCE Ambassador Eugen Walfarth only.