Albania holds peaceful local elections amid political turmoil. Albania held its municipal elections on June 30 despite President’s decision to cancel the vote and a boycott by the main opposition parties who had previously relinquished from their parliamentary mandates and didn’t register any candidates for municipal elections. Albania’s centre-right opposition has led protests since mid-February demanding a new general election, accusing the government of links with organized crime following the publication of wiretaps allegedly revealing the involvement of criminal gangs in vote-buying. The Central Election Commission decided in favour of holding municipal elections, confirmed also by Albania’s top legal institution on election issues (Electoral College). The five judges ruled unanimously that a small political party, which had asked to deregister based on President’s action, must take part in Sunday’s vote. President ordered the postponement of the elections for 13 October by issuing a new decree, but the government has ignored this, while the US and several EU countries have supported holding the elections on their due date of June 30. Albania’s parliament has started the procedure to oust the President for violating the constitution with his attempt to cancel municipal elections. The vote is seen as a key test of democracy and the capacity of the political elite in Albania to solve problems in a peaceful manner, at a time when the country expects to obtain a date from the EU to launch accession negotiations in October.