Berisha says he won't step down, accuses PM of electoral fraud

The leader of one of the Democratic Party’s factions, Sali Berisha suffered a big defeat in Sunday’s mayoral race. His coalition with former president, Ilir Meta only managed to win in seven municipalities and lost even in traditional democrat strongholds, such as Shkodra and Kamza.

At a news conference today, the former PM was asked whether he will resign following this big defeat, but Berisha said such thing will never happen.

Berisha said he will never surrender in front of the “power of crime” and accused PM Edi Rama of spending thousands of euros to control the local government.

These statements come at a time when the Democratic Party has been plagued by deep divisions. The main opposition party is divided into two parts and the big schism occured when Berisha was asked by former party leader, Lulzim Basha to leave following a decision by the US Department of State to designate him as persona non-grata for significant corruption and for mining democracy.