Tirana, September 1 (AENews) – The Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano declared today his resignation as Leader of the Albanian Socialist Party, after having lost in the July 3 parliamentary elections.

“I am bearing the responsibility to resign from my position as Leader of the party,” Fatos Nano declared today around noon time. His declaration was somewhat an unexpected surprise which left many journalists astonished.

In a 30 minute declaration, Fatos Nano commented on the elections and accused his political opponents both within and outside the party. He did not make any pronouncements regarding his future political position, but simply declared that he would support the changes and reforms within the Socialist Party.

Till a new leader is elected in the upcoming party assembly, the Socialists will be lead by its general secretary Gramoz Ruci.

This latest resignation by Fatos Nano as party leader is his second with the first being in Feb. 1999, which was short-lived, however, because he returned again in September of that same year after wining against the ex-Prime Minister Pandeli Majko during the Socialist Party elections.

Many analysts in Tirana are of the opinion that his latest resignation of today is a similar political scenario. Meanwhile, Nano made it clear that the support that he enjoys within his party was not lacking.

The future battle for the leadership of the Socialist party may also include the eccentric Mayor of Tirana, Edi Rama, whom has already made his claims regarding leadership of the largest left-wing party in the country.

Meanwhile, the departing leader, attacked the right-wing, who according to him had won the elections through means of manipulations and violence.

“The professional manipulation scheme for these elections as employed by the Democratic Party was mainly based on the use of false birth certificates in urban areas,” Mr. Nano said, declaring that many people had voted twice by using the names of emigrants or citizens which had moved elsewhere within the country.

Born in Tirane, in 1952, Fatos Nano received his Economical Polities degree from the University of Tirana in 1975. In 1983 he earned the title Doctor of Science, while in 2003 he earned the title Professor Doctor.

In 1991 he was declared Prime Minister of Albania by the Albanian Labor Party (the then communist party), meanwhile the party’s name was changed just a few month later to what today is known as the Albanian Socialist Party.

Later, in June of that same year he was declared leader of the new party. His party then lost in Albania’s first free elections of 1992, then in June of 1993 he was arrested and judged for corruption.
Nano remained in prison till 1997, meanwhile maintained throughout the entire time his position as Socialist Party leader.

Later in 1997 after the turmoils of that year he received a pardon then soon earned his innocence for which he also received monetary compensation for the time spent in prison.

In July of 1997 he became the Albanian Prime Minister for the third time and then for the fourth time in August of 2002.

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