Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said on Tuesday that his party would file a case with Albania’s Constitutional Court over the handling of the diaspora vote in the May 11 parliamentary elections, and would escalate the issue to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if necessary.
Speaking at a press conference in Tirana, Berisha reiterated his claim that the May 11 elections were a “fraudulent farce” that undermined the legitimacy of the democratic process.
“The electoral farce of May 11 marks a decisive step toward the complete devaluation of the Albanian citizens’ vote,” Berisha said from the party’s headquarters.
Berisha alleged that government officials had offered jobs in exchange for votes during the campaign. “The issue lies in the moment when promises are made—people then vote based on that. They record the need and the promise, and that’s how the vote is secured. They promise employment and expect votes in return,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the exclusion of diaspora participation, Berisha said the party would follow all legal avenues to challenge the process.
“The Constitutional Court is under government control,” he said. “But for the sake of judicial hierarchy, and to ensure that we can raise constitutional issues before international courts, we will go through every stage—including the Constitutional Court—on our path to Strasbourg.”
Berisha, who has long accused the government of election manipulation, has made the protection of voting rights—including those of Albanians living abroad—a key point in his political agenda.