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In the wake of the election, nearly 50 lawmakers from the governing Socialist Party, which ended up winning 74 of parliament s 140 seats, called for an investigative committee to decide whether Meta violated the constitution and should be impeached.
A two-thirds majority was required to impeach the president and with 74 seats, Socialists could not have had the 94 votes needed to meet that requirement.
What happens now?
Now that lawmakers have voted to remove Meta from office, it will be up to Albania s Constitutional Court to give final approval within the next three months.
In order for Meta to be impeached, the constitutional court would require a majority of votes.
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Albanian President Ilir Meta delivers a speech during a news conference in Tirana, Albania June 10, 2019. REUTERS/Florion Goga/File Photo
Albania s parliament voted on Wednesday to sack President Ilir Meta over statements which the ruling party said advocated violence and violated the constitution.
Some 104 of parliament s 140 deputies voted for Meta to be dismissed more than a year before the end of his term, the first time this has happened in Albania since the multi-party system was introduced in 1991.
The Constitutional Court, whose approval is needed to formalise parliament s decision, is expected to rule within three months.
The Socialist Party, which was re-elected in April, has accused Meta of fomenting violence by siding with opposition parties in alleging before the parliamentary election that it would be rigged.
Albania parliament impeaches President Ilir Meta, removes him from office
Socialist lawmakers have accused Meta of violating the constitution and taking sides ahead of parliamentary elections in April. Albania s presidency is largely a ceremonial role.
Albanian President Ilir Meta has frequently feuded with Prime Minister Edi Rama s Socialist government
Albania s parliament on Wednesday impeached President Ilir Meta during an extraordinary session, removing him from his post. Meta is accused of violating the constitution for taking sides against the governing Socialist Party during parliamentary elections in April.
The parliament voted 104-7 to impeach Meta, well exceeding the 93 votes required to remove him from office. Lawmakers in favor of impeachment say Meta s actions triggered political instability in Albania and that he failed to fulfill his constitutional obligation of maintaining national unity.