The Constitutional Court of Albania has suspended President Bajram Begaj's decree setting November 9 as the date for the elections in the Municipality of Tirana.
The decision was made unanimously, while the lawsuit of former mayor Erjon Veliaj will be reviewed in a public plenary session on October 31.
The suspension means that no elections will be held in Tirana until the court's final decision. Veliaj, who is in custody on corruption charges, has challenged both the dismissal and the presidential decree, which his defense calls an invalid legal act.
The Presidency announced that it "respects the decision of the Constitutional Court to suspend the part that determines the election date."
Opposition candidate Florjan Binaj declared that he would participate in the race “whenever the elections are scheduled.” Meanwhile, the Socialist Party stressed that “the decision does not affect the November 9 elections” and that a final decision is expected on October 31. Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party described the decision as “an important act in the defense of constitutionality.”