Leader of Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party resigns
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The leader of Albania’s main opposition party resigned from his post on Monday following infighting.
Lulzim Basha said he decided to step down as chairman of the Democratic Party “in order to help the resurrection and unity of the democrats”.
Basha’s dismissal of former party leader Sali Berisha from the parliamentary group in September sparked an internal fight between them. Berisha created a group seeking to remove Basha from office, accusing him of being a “hostage” to Prime Minister Edi Rama of the Left Socialist Party.
In January, supporters of the center-right Democratic Party clashed as they attempted to storm their party headquarters.
Basha followed Berisha to the post when the latter resigned in 2013 after losing parliamentary elections.
Earlier this month, divided Democrats lost massively in snap elections in six municipalities. It was Basha’s last defeat in the nine years he led the Democrats.
Basha’s decision against Berisha follows an intervention in May by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who designated Berisha and his immediate family members as persona non grata for “acts of corruption that undermined democracy in Albania”. during Berisha’s tenure from 2005 to 2013 as Prime Minister.
Washington also made it clear that it would not cooperate with the Albanian Democratic Party if led by Berisha.