TIRANA, Albania — In Albania’s recent parliamentary election, preliminary results have placed the ruling Socialist Party in the lead, capturing the support of those favoring the country’s challenging journey toward European Union membership. Under Prime Minister Edi Rama’s leadership, these results could potentially secure him a fourth term in office.
With around 25% of the votes tallied, Prime Minister Rama’s left-leaning Socialists have garnered approximately 53% of the vote. Meanwhile, Sali Berisha’s center-right Democratic Party coalition trails behind with 35%. These numbers indicate that the Socialists are in a favorable position to obtain the necessary 71 seats to govern independently, potentially surpassing their previous parliament representation.
The voter turnout on Sunday was recorded at nearly 42.16%, which is roughly 4% less than the turnout observed four years ago. In the election, approximately 3.7 million eligible voters, both within Albania and abroad, participated to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year term in the Balkan state.
Albania, with a population of 2.8 million, has a voter base of about 3.7 million, owing to significant emigration. Notably, for the first time, about 191,000 Albanian diaspora members were able to vote via mail, marking a significant move in the election process.
Ilirjan Celibashi, who heads the Central Election Commission, stated that the election day proceeded peacefully for the most part, despite a few irregularities linked to candidates and their supporters. These incidents, he assured, were unlikely to affect the overall results.
“Overall, and aside from a few isolated incidents, the election process adhered to standard rules and guidelines,” Celibashi commented on Sunday evening following the closing of the polls.
The Socialist Party, under Rama’s leadership, has made an ambitious pledge to achieve EU membership within five years. The plan involves concluding negotiations by 2027 and obtaining approval from all 27 EU member states by 2030. This promise comes alongside efforts to counter conservative opposition, which includes public criticisms and rival promises of salary increases.
Building on his campaign achievements, which primarily highlighted infrastructure developments and judicial reforms, Rama’s Socialist Party aims to further boost the nation’s tourism sector. Their goal is to increase the number of international visitors from 10 million in 2024 to 30 million by 2030, through diversifying tourist destinations and expanding infrastructure projects. Rama has also promised increases in pensions and salaries.
Rama’s primary opponent, Sali Berisha, aged 80, is a former president and prime minister. Berisha has voiced skepticism regarding Albania’s readiness for EU membership. His campaign drew parallels with that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, including enlisting one of Trump’s top campaign advisors.
Over 570 international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe were present to monitor the elections. This international presence underscores the importance of maintaining a transparent and credible election process, reflecting the global community’s vested interest in Albania’s democratic journey.