Albanian parliament fails to elect a president

Tirana, July 9: Albania's parliament yesterday failed to elect a president, keeping open the prospect of a snap general election that would set back the country's European Union hopes.

The candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, its deputy chairman Bamir Topi, received 75 of the 84 votes required, voting commission head Arjan Madhi said.

Opposition MPs boycotted the session in protest against the Democrats' decision not to support a consensus candidate. This was the third round of voting. If no candidate is elected in five rounds, the country must hold a general election.

Reuters>