TIRANA, Albania: Albania's newly elected president, Bamir Topi, is to be sworn in on Tuesday.
Topi, 50, was elected by parliament on Friday after some opposition lawmakers ended their coalition's boycott and took part in a vote to give enough support.
Albania's bickering political groups — the governing Democratic Party-led coalition and the opposition Socialist Party-led coalition — had failed in three previous rounds to agree on a presidential candidate.
Topi is to replace Alfred Moisiu, for a five-year term during which he said he would try to reconcile political groups, respect the country's constitution and help the tiny Balkan country, one of Europe's poorest, to become a member of the NATO and the European Union.
Topi, 50, a biologist who previously served as agriculture minister, is to be sworn in at parliament and then Moisiu will hold a handover ceremony at Tirana's Palace of Brigades.
In Friday's vote, lawmakers cast 85 votes for Topi, one more than required in the 140-seat Parliament to secure the presidency, which has powers over the country's judiciary and armed forces.
Topi has been elected three times as a lawmaker during Albania's post-communist period. He is married, and has two daughters. (IHT)
No comments:
Post a Comment