Albanian lawmakers sworn in, elect new speaker

Albania's 140 new lawmakers were sworn in on Friday and elected a new speaker at the first session of parliament since elections almost five months ago.

Lindita Nikolla of the Socialist Party was elected parliamentary speaker, with 79 votes in favour and four against.

The main opposition center-right Democratic Party boycotted the vote after tearing up their ballot papers.

The elections were won, for the third time running, by the left-wing Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

His party has 74 seats while the Democratic Party holds 59.

Rama has already named a 17-member Cabinet, 12 of whose members are women. Parliament is expected to approve it next week.