Himara's Controversial Mayoral Vote: A Clash of Politics and Property

Albanians in Himara head to the polls to elect a new mayor after the previous one, Fredis Beleris, an ethnic Greek, was convicted of vote-buying, sparking tensions between Greece and Albania. Both new candidates are focused on the critical issue of property ownership in the region.

Albanians in the southwestern town of Himara are set to vote Sunday for a new mayor. Their previous choice, Fredis Beleris, a member of the ethnic Greek minority, was removed from office, convicted, and imprisoned for vote-buying. Beleris and neighboring Greece argue it was a politically motivated case.

The situation has strained relations between Tirana and Athens, with Greece threatening to impede Albania's EU membership bid. Beleris, a dual Albanian-Greek national, was elected to the European Parliament with Greece's conservative party in June, adding another layer to the diplomatic tensions.

As the town's voters head to the polls, both remaining candidates, Vangiel Tavo and Petraq Gjikuria, promise to address the ongoing property disputes exacerbated by the area's tourist development boom. The Socialists currently dominate the Town Hall, and the outcome of this vote could shift local power dynamics.

(With inputs from agencies.)