Tirana, June 4 (BNA): The Albanian parliament today elected a senior military official as the country’s new president after no candidate was nominated in three rounds of voting.
Gen-Mag. Bagram Bijaj won the office after the 140-seat parliament voted in favor of 78, with four against and one abstaining, according to the Associated Press.
The ruling left-wing Socialist Party nominated and voted for Pejaj, 55, after failing to reach a compromise with the opposition over a candidate to replace President Ilir Meta, and no independent candidate has been appointed.
Pejaj is the eighth president of post-communist Albania and the third in military ranks.
The five-year presidency has a largely ceremonial role and the chosen candidate is expected to stand above party divisions.
The president has some powers over the judiciary and the armed forces and is limited to two terms.
Bijaj was elected from among six candidates, said Socialist leader and Prime Minister Edi Rama, adding that no candidates from the ruling majority were taken into account.
Bejaj has been Chief of Army Staff since July 2020. Prior to that, he held various military positions, including in general and military hospitals, and trained in the United States in strategic medical leadership and defense management.
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