TIRANA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Albania's largest opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), will elect a new leader on July 22 following a landslide defeat in Sunday's parliamentary elections, local media reported Thursday.
DP vice chairmen Edi Paloka and Edmond Spaho announced in a press statement that the party has officially launched the procedures for the election of its new leader, and that candidates could apply until July 2.
The decision came after incumbent Lulzim Basha refused to turn in his resignation two days ago when admitting defeat in the general elections which gave his opponent, Premier Edi Rama, 74 seats in the 140-seat parliament.
Basha has announced that he had decided to quit all his roles as DP chairman to pave the way for the party elections.
Although Basha admitted the unprecedented defeat against the Socialist Party led by the prime minister, he claimed the parliamentary polls were marred by vote buying with dirty crime money.
The ruling Socialist Party garnered 48.33 percent of votes, which translated into 74 seats in the 140-seat parliament in Sunday's general elections, while the DP received 28.81 percent of the votes, or 43 seats.
