TIRANA (Albania), June 8 (SeeNews) – The Albanian parliament failed to elect a new president of the country at the third time of asking on Friday due to lack of consensus between the ruling majority and the opposition, local media reported.
The leaders of the parliamentary groups decided to hold the fourth round of voting for president on June 11, local broadcaster Ora News reported on its website (www.ora-news.com).
In rounds four and five, a head of state can be elected with a simple majority of 71 votes.
Under Albania's constitution, the president is elected by parliament in a secret vote without a preceding debate. Candidates should be nominated by at least 20 MPs. To be elected, a candidate needs to be backed by three-fifths of all MPs. In case parliament fails to elect a president in three rounds of voting, another two rounds are held where the candidate is elected with a simple majority. If they too prove unsuccessful, parliament is dissolved and general elections are called.
Albania's head of state has a five-year mandate. The incumbent president, Bamir Topi, was elected in 2007 and his term expires in July.
The Democratic Party is the biggest formation in Albania's parliament, holding 68 of all 140 seats.