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An indirect presidential election was held in Albania on 30 May, 4 June, 8 June 2012 and in the following days. The first through third rounds of voting were inconclusive.

Procedure

The president of Albania is elected to a 5-year term by the Assembly of the Republic of Albania by secret ballot. The candidate must get a three-fifth majority of the votes of all deputies in parliament. When this majority is not reached in the first round of voting, a second round takes place within seven days. This process continues for up to five rounds of voting, following which an inability to choose a candidate for president the Assembly is dissolved and a general election must occur within 60 days. After the first three rounds, however, the requirement to elect a president is a simple majority of votes.

Candidates

While the two major parties (the ruling Democratic Party and the oppositional Socialist Party) are bickering about the name of the new Head of State, some smaller parties have already proposed their candidates. The Albanian Christian Democratic Movement has formally announced the current Speaker of Parliament Jozefina Topalli as their presidential nominee, this was a surprising choice as Topalli has widely been seen and speculated upon by the media as the potential Democratic Party candidate for the post.

Other smaller parties have also presented their candidates. The Democratic Alliance Party has officially proposed the name of its current leader Neritan Ceka as the party's nominee for the presidential race. For the representative of this party Ceka has all the chances to be chosen as a compromise candidate and win the support of all the parties.

Aleko Gjergjo and Hajredin Fratari are the two candidates that have been proposed by the Democratic National Front Party.

A name that has been speculated upon by the media to be a strong contender in the presidential race is that of former Prime Minister and presidential candidate Fatos Nano. He received only 3 votes in the previous presidential election held in 2007 because most members of the opposition coalition led by the Socialist Party did not support him, however, and chose to boycott this Presidential Election..

Unity for Human Rights Party have officially stated its support for Nano's nomination.

The Student Council of the Luigj Gurakuqi University of Shkodra proposed Ismail Kadare as president, but Kadare as had done in 2007 refuse to become president of the country.

The full name list proposed by the majority Berisha-Meta Cabinet:

• Ardian Fullani, Governor of the Bank of Albania
• Artur Kuko, Ambassador in NATO
• Dashnor Dervishi, Ambassador in Greece
• Ferit Hoxha, Ambassador at the UN
• Ledi Bianku, Member of the Strasbourg Court
• Kristaq Traja, Former Member of the Strasbourg Court
• Mimoza Halimi, Ambassador in Belgium
• Xhezair Zaganjori, member of the Constitutional Court
• Amik Kasoruho, intellectual and former prisoner during the communist regime

Xhezair Zaganjori, a member of the Constitutional Court has been named by the governing coalition as their main compromise candidate for the post of president.

The full name list individually proposed by the deputies of Socialist Party:

• Pandeli Majko, former Prime Minister
• Fatos Nano, former Prime Minister
• Paskal Milo, Leader of the Social Democracy Party of Albania

Election

First round

The Socialist Party rejected Zaganjori, as the first round of voting on 30 May failed without a vote. It accused the Democratic Party of not consulting them over the move to elect Zaganjori. Parliamentary speaker Jozefina Topalli said that "I urge all political parties to pursue a spirit of acceptance, and then the solution will come in the second or third round."

Second round

On 4 June, there was still a lack of a consensus between the ruling party and the opposition. The session lasted only two minutes, just enough time to declare that no nominees had been presented. The Democratic Party insisted on naming Zaganjori, with Prime Minister Sali Berish saying that "we've done our part, we gave up our initial positions, renouncing a political candidature and take a step towards the opposition in order to reach a mutual agreement. Let's hope the opposition do their part now." The Socialist Party countered in saying that Zaganjori's nomination was put forward unilaterally and asked for more negotiations to reach a compromise. The Leader of the Opposition Edi Rama said that "our objective is to give the country a head of state who receives support both from the government and the opposition. We aren't laying out any conditions. The government must make it possible for us to also make a contribution."

Third round

On 8 June, Albania's parliament has failed for the third time to elect a new president, despite international pressure to agree on a candidate. No candidate was officially presented, so Parliament did not hold a vote. The candidate nominated by the governing Democratic Party-led coalition, Constitutional Court judge Xhezair Zaganjori, had been rejected by the main opposition Socialists.

In the two rounds left, which are expected next week, a simple majority of 71 votes in the 140-seat parliament, is needed. Lawmakers have a maximum five attempts to choose a successor for Bamir Topi, whose five-year term expires July 24. He is not running for a second term. If they fail, national elections must be held within 45 days.

After the third round, Zaganjori withdrew his candidacy for the presidency, stating he wanted to be elected as a consensus candidate, and as the opposition didn't trust him, didn't want to be elected with the government's votes alone.

Fourth round

The fourth round will be held on 11 June. The meeting between the leaders of the Socialist, Democratic, Socialist Movement for Integration and Justice for Integration and Unity parties gave no results. The majority proposed in a first list Arben Imami (Minister of Defense), Bujar Nishani (Minister of Interior), Artan Hoxha (columnist), Petraq Milo (Prime Minister's adviser) and a non-political second list Edmond Islamaj (member of Supreme Court of Albania), Vitore Tusha also member of Supreme Court, Ledio Bianku. The majority decided that the candidate for president will be Artan Hoxha on 10 June. Sources say that one of the opposition’s names was Pandeli Majko. When asked if this presidential election will damage the EU candidate status, Berisha declared that everything is according to the Constitution. The Socialist Movement for Integration leader, Ilir Meta, declared that Artan Hoxha’s name comes after a meeting that we have with Sali Berisha, Edi Rama, Shpëtim Idrizi, Gramoz Ruçi and Astrit Patozi.According to Meta, Hoxha enjoys a wider consensus than the majority, while Rama considered the dialogue failed. If elected, Artan Hoxha will be voted only with the votes of the majority. On 11 June, the newly selected candidate for president by the majority, Artan Hoxha, has withdrawn his candidacy. The news is confirmed by Top Channel journalists, while the situation in Parliament remains unexplained. Right after this decision, the majority elected Bujar Nishani as their candidate, while Vangjel Dule declared that the opposition should propose Fatos Nano. Hoxha published in his profile in Facebook and media the reason of withdrawal. The withdrawal declaration of Artan Hoxha “Until yesterday night I hoped that the presidential process would have the minimal spirit of understanding and consensus, and this morning, after receiving hundreds of congratulatory messages, with some of them coming from Socialist Party members, I have continued to hope that the presidential process still promised consensus. But seeing the aggressive stances of Socialist exponents and their media, including slander and blackmail, I reached the conclusion that the presidential process cannot have the minimum of civilization, and due to the political interests, the process will not be allowed to contribute the civil factors. I have followed the presidential process very closely and have commented for a reasonable and consensual reason. I thought to contribute in the last session for the same goal, but based on what I declared above, I cannot be part of this process which apparently warns a storm. Edi Eama and Sajmir Tahiri MP of the Socialist Party accused Hoxha as a spy of Sigurimi during the during the dictatorship. Hoxha proposed was firmed by 40 deputy of the majority.

After Artan Hoxha withdrew his candidacy, the majority proposed Bujar Nishani, currently Interior Minister, as candidate for the next Albanian President. The Democratic Party Parliamentary Group leader, Astrit Patozi, declared that Nishani will be voted at the session of 17:00.

Rama say for Top Channel that Nano cannot be our candidate. The Socialist Party leader reconfirmed that Fatos Nano will not be the Socialist Party’s candidate for President, because he left the party on his own will. “If Nano’s candidacy would be consensual, we would not break the consensus, but he cannot be our candidate, because we cannot break our principles and ruin Albania’s opportunity for the EU candidate status”, Rama decalred. Rama against Nishani. Let’s find a consensual candidate. The Socialist leader, Edi Rama, declared that his political forces stands to the same position that serves to the national interest.

As for Artan Hoxha, who withdrew the candidacy, Rama underlined that SP could never support him as a candidate, while he underlined that now is the time to overcome the crisis with a new step. “It is unacceptable for a Minister to become President, especially in a time of crisis like the one we’re in”, Rama declared, underlining that they cannot have imposed a candidacy that represents only the Democratic Party. “It is possible to find a consensual solution that should be a product in function of the future of Albanians. I want to underline that the best way is that of reason, which will bring the parties to a candidacy that will have the consensus of everyone”, Rama declared.

Nano appeals SP, considered as shameful the situation that has been created and asked the SP to run for winning the presidential race. “This is the moment when the party leaders should think beyond their close political accounts that have deteriorated Albania, and show their full responsibility for the love of the country, with its values and merits that an European country deserves”. Nano reiterated that he offered himself for President with the purpose to create consensus and win this competition. Nano appealed the Socialist Party to win the race together with him, so that it can be the preface of a future victory of the Socialist Party and all A|lbanians, according to Nano.

The vice leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration, Petrit Vasili, declared that the SMI will stand to the agreement set with the Democratic Party for the election of president, as decided in 2009, adding that they have tried to find a wider consensus possible by respecting the deadlines and the constitution.

The leader of the United for Humans Right party, Vangjel Dule, considered this a false process that shows the failure of the political class in what is happening in the country. “The majority still showed that they cannot elect the President, even with simple majority. I appeal the opposition and Edi Rama, since we have an incapable majority, to not allow the opposition to avoid the political battle, but offer its alternative through Fatos Nano”, Dule declared.

The leader of the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, Shpetim Idrizi, declared that the Socialist Party should offer Nano’s candidacy for President, reminding that there is no time and the President should be elected soon. “I have proposed Nano’s candidacy in the dialogue that we had this Sunday, and I found Ilir Meta’s support for this”, Idrizi declared.

Gazmend Oketa one of the founders of the New Democratic Spirit, asked the election of a consensual president, as the right choice. "Our country needs consensus, and our country seems on the brink of early elections”, Oketa declared on Top Channel’s “Top Story”.

References

1. http://www.neurope.eu/article/albania-begins-elections-procedures
2. http://www.president.al/english/pub/kushtetuta.asp
3. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/30/us-albania-president-idUSBRE84T0LG20120530
4. ^ Kandidaturat për president, Aleanca Demokristiane propozon Jozefina Topallin, Gazeta Shqip, 2012-04-29 (in Albanian)
5. "Smaller parties present their presidential nominees - oranews" (in Albanian). Oranews. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
6. http://www.top-channel.tv/english/artikull.php?id=5665
7. Xhezair Zaganjori, candidate for President, Top Channel, 2012-05-30
8. PS, ja emrat që po propozojnë deputetët për President, Shqiptarja.com, 2012-06-02 (in Albanian)
9. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2012/May-30/175125-albanian-parliament-fails-to-elect-new-president.ashx#axzz1wMJkW62b
10. http://ansamed.ansa.it/ansamed/en/news/nations/albania/2012/06/04/Albania-candidates-running-election-presidency_6979703.html
11. Albania fails a 3rd time to elect president, mail.com, 2012-06-08
12. Zaganjori withdraws candidacy for president, Top Channel, 2012-06-08
13. http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2012/06/09/feature-01
14. http://www.top-channel.tv/english/artikull.php?id=6083&ref=fp
15. http://www.top-channel.tv/english/artikull.php?id=6088
16. http://www.top-channel.tv/english/artikull.php?id=6086

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