ALBANIA'S young democracy was thrown into turmoil yesterday as the country's ruling Democratic Party claimed a crushing victory in Sunday's general elections. But the opposition, ranging from former communists to free market conservatives, refused to recognise the result, saying it had been obtained through intimidation, violence and widespread cheating at the polls.
Some results were announced, before counting was complete. President Sali Berisha, who has ruled the country with increasing authoritarianism and disregard for human rights over the past four years, claimed his party had clinched more than 60 per cent of the vote a seemingly incredible result which far exceeded even the most optimistic opinion poll forecasts and predictions by foreign observers.
A number of DP candidates were credited with 80 per cent or more of the vote in their constituencies. Mr Tritan Shehu, the party chairman, was said to have polled 92 per cent in Kavaja. Of the 115 seats being decided by a majority system, as many as 112 were last night being claimed for the party in power even though some ballots from more remote rural areas were yet to be collected, much less counted.
Even at the height of its popularity, in 1992, the Democratic Party polled no more than 62 per cent. At that time it was the spearhead of n movement to rid Albania of its hard line Communist past, with broad public support since then however, it has shed many original members who have fallen out with Mr Berisha, and is regarded by many Albanians as a corrupt and authoritarian ruling force.
Nine opposition groups, including the Socialist Party, pulled out of the election while the polls were still open on Sunday evening, alleging that voters and returning officers had been systematically intimidated and citing several cases of beatings and arrests.
Mr Berisha has accused the opposition of being bad losers.