President of the Republic, Ilir Meta has demanded Friday that high number invalid ballot papers found in the counting process following the general election of April 25 is seriously and immediately cross-examined.

According to the Head of State, the investigation of invalid votes with calmness and maximum transparency is more valid than ever, because this “record number of over 5% of invalid votes has not been a willing expression of invalidity”.

Meanwhile, President Meta thanked the Albanians for massively taking part in the elections and pointed out that out of 2.242.147 people with the right to vote, 1.661.885 people votes, based on the state institutions’ data.

“Referring to the official data of state institutions, it is estimated that out of about 2,242,147 citizens with the right to vote, 1,661,885 citizens voted.

Given the impossibility of exercising the right to vote even through unilateral normative acts, the record turnout on April 25 of over 74% of citizens residing in Albania with the right to vote, is a clear expression of high civic responsibility for the fate of the country.

While the election process continues, all attention should be focused on identifying and investigating any irregularities that have disrupted the process and distorted the expressed will of the citizens.

The record number of more than 5% of invalid ballots, of which the absolute majority was clearly not a voluntary expression of invalidity, requires an urgent and serious investigation.

No focus shift, until the end of the process! The only valid investigation now is the investigation of invalid votes!

The provocateurs' firecrackers have only one purpose, to distract from what happened at the ballot box and during the counting”, underlined the President of Albania.