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Albania Socialists Win Polls, Can Govern Without Partner

by Associated Press

   TIRANA --

   Nearly complete election results show that Albania's left-wing
   Socialist Party has secured a second mandate in a general election seen
   as a key benchmark to the country's bid to launch membership
   negotiations with the European Union.

   The Central Election Commission on Tuesday said that with more than 96
   percent of the ballots counted the governing Socialists of Prime
   Minister Edi Rama had won about 48 percent of the votes, or 74 places
   in the 140-seat parliament.

   The opposition Democratic party of Lulzim Basha won 29 percent, or 43
   seats.

   Voter turnout in Sunday's election fell to 46.6 percent, 7 points lower
   than in 2013.

   The nation of 2.9 million, a NATO member since 2009, received EU
   candidate status in 2014.