The winning candidates from Sunday’s primaries will also represent the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) at the by-elections.
SMI’s deputy leader for the Tirana branch, Briseida Shehaj, told ‘Today’ on Euronews Albania that the intention is to head to the polls under the same banner, dubbed ‘House of Freedom’.
The coalition will include Sali Berisha’s faction, SMI, and other political parties.
Shehaj said that the idea is to create a large opposition front that aims to restore citizens’ trust in the opposition.
“SMI will not introduce any candidates. The candidates of the Refoundation Group will represent the House of Freedom coalition. This is not about names, but restoring faith in the opposition. We’re at a point where names are irrelevant, what matters is that we’re dealing with intellectuals. Basha no longer exists for us. The coalition is an opposition front against thieves and government corruption”, Shehaj said.
On Sunday, the members of the Democratic Party in six Albanian municipalities voted in the primaries to pick the candidate that will run at the by-elections.
The winning candidates are:
- Durres – Ardian Muka
- Vora – Lulzim Vrana
- Diber – Premtim Kryemadhi
- Lushnje – Elton Bano
- Rogozhine – Hekuran Xhani
- Shkoder – Bardh Spahia
