Albania elects new president

Albania’s parliament has elected a new president. Bamir Topi, who is the ruling Democratic Party’s vice chairman, received the 84 votes needed to clinch the job thanks to the support of some opposition Socialist members. They had ignored a call to boycott the poll from other opposition parties as their own leader had backed Topi. If the parliamentary poll had failed to produce a clear winner it would have forced a snap general election. Analysts say this would have delayed much-needed reforms hampering the country’s hopes of joining the EU.

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