Albanian socialists held their congress. New political platform approved

by Alfred Kola

The SPA’s congress is closing with the voting of the new political platform, the changes in the party’s statute and the elections of the Council and the General Assembly.

The voting process ended at about 1.00 pm on Sunday and the counting process is about to start later today.

In his speech before the congress, SP Chairman Edi Rama said that “Socialist party has a genuine democratic freedom and liberty of ideas and programs, but our party is suffering from a disease in every level of representation where people use the mandate given by the constituencies throughout Albania for personal benefits” -- alluding on a series losses to win chairpersons of the Councils in the majority of the counties, even though the socialist had the majority to do so. A considerable number of socialist representatives voted suddenly and unexpectedly for their political opponents, a fact that raised doubts on their integrity.

The socialist said they have drafted a plan that includes 95% of Albanians who live in poverty and soaring unemployment rate. Many believe this program will help the Socialist party to oust the incumbent prime minister Berisha from power in 2013 general elections.