President Ilir Meta decreed March 6 as the official date for the local by-elections.

The Albanian President initially made the announcement on a political talk show on Wednesday evening.

“I will decree March 6 as the date for the local by-elections”, Meta said.

President Meta said to have received guarantees from the Socialist Party that there will be no boycott on the elections, adding that “it is difficult for me to say what will the Democrats or citizens do”.

His decision came after consulting with the head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group Taulant Balla on Wednesday.

By-elections are held when the mayor’s seat is vacant for various reasons. Currently, there are six municipalities without an executive authority in Albania, namely, Shkodra, Durres, Vora, Diber, Rrogozhina, and Lushnje.

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