Letter:Albanian poll results were legitimate
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Last week's reporting by Andrew Gumbel on the stolen Albanian election shows that the crucial factor ensuring the victory of Saul Berisha's Democratic Party was the willingness of west European governments to turn a blind eye to systematic ballot-rigging.
President Sali Berisha is too dependent on Western goodwill to resist demands for a fresh poll under clear international supervision. The result might create short-term turbulence but it would be a powerful lesson to Balkan tyrants-in-the-making that the West does not regard democracy as an optional extra in their part of the world and, in the end, it would probably make the region more stable.
The mirage that Berisha stands for stability is likely soon to be dispelled completely as the evidence mounts that he is allowing Albania to become a clearing-house for hard drugs and arms.
The ones who will have the last laugh will be Radovan Karadzic and Slobodan Milosevic. Why should renegade politicians who made war on their own people be expected to abide by the democratic rulebook when it has been ignored in a country viewed as a showcase for Western influence in the region?
Dr TOM GALLAGHER
Department of Peace Studies
University of Bradford
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments