Addressing the meeting, Berisha stressed that the opposition will use every available avenue to challenge the government, adding that a boycott has proven “destructive” for opposition forces, despite his criticism of the President’s decree calling early elections in Tirana unconstitutional.

“Boycott, which often comes to mind first in response to injustice, has been shown to have a destructive effect on opposition parties and their survival,” he said.

Berisha emphasized that motivating citizens to resist and save Albania from the current regime cannot come from boycotts or external pressure, but through active participation: “It comes from us, from our resilience.”

Regarding the opposition’s Tirana candidacy, Berisha said discussions so far have focused on the model for uniting opposition forces, not on individual candidates.

“I appointed a delegation to explore with our allies a model in which we could all be united as opposition,” he said, noting talks included coalition partners as well as parties with a proven vote base outside the coalition.

He added that some stakeholders prefer an independent candidate supported by the opposition to maximize electoral chances. Berisha also highlighted that DP has strong candidates, and the discussions are aimed at consolidating votes across the opposition spectrum rather than questioning individual nominees.

Partial local elections in six municipalities across Albania – including Tirana, Vlorë, Berat, Mat, Tepelenë, and Cërrik – are scheduled for November 9.

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Mayoral by-elections will take place in Vorë, Dibër, Shkodër, Lushnjë, Rrogozhinë and Durrës. Mayors elected through by-elections will serve for only one year, as local elections are scheduled to take place in June 2023.

According to the data from the General Directorate of Civil Registry, as many as 654,538 Albanian citizens are eligible to vote, including 10,134 first time voters.

There will be 13 CEAZs and 940 polling stations in the by-elections.

The State Election Commissioner decided to implement the pilot project on e- voting and counting for the local by-elections on March 6 in the municipality of Vora, Tirana district. E-voting and counting equipment will be distributed to 44 polling stations in Vora.

A total of 667.629 ballot papers have been already produced for the March 6 partial elections.

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