On 11 May 2025, Albania will hold its elections to elect 140 members of the Assembly. For the first time, approximately 245,935 diaspora voters are eligible to vote via postal ballots. As of 9 May, when the deadline for returning postal votes expired, over 150,000 votes had been returned. Voting will occur from 07:00 to 19:00 across 5,225 voting centres, with 16 special centres designated for voters in detention or social welfare facilities.
The political landscape is dominated by two major forces: the ruling Socialist Party (PS), led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, and the opposition Democratic Party (PD), headed by Sali Berisha through the “Alliance for a Great Albania” coalition. Rama, in power since 2013 and seeking a fourth term, has leveraged Albania’s EU candidacy status, promising EU membership by 2030 if re-elected. However, critics highlight persistent issues such as corruption and economic stagnation as potential vulnerabilities.
Berisha, a former prime minister and president, remains a polarising figure. Despite U.S. sanctions for alleged corruption, his nationalist rhetoric resonates with segments of the electorate frustrated by the PS’s dominance. Smaller parties are also vying for influence, capitalising on voter disillusionment with the traditional PS-PD duopoly. These include “Shqipëria Bëhet” (led by Adriatik Lapaj), focusing on anti-corruption and youth engagement; “Partia Mundësia” (led by Agron Shehaj), emphasising economic reform; and “Levizja Bashke” (led by Arlind Qori), advocating progressive policies.
Recent electoral code changes introduce partial preferential voting, allowing voters to influence candidate rankings, though party leaders retain control over the top third of lists, limiting internal democracy. Emerging parties like “Levizja Bashke” and “Shqipëria Bëhet” are particularly appealing to younger voters and the diaspora, offering fresh ideological perspectives in a political system often criticised for stagnation.
Polls provide a snapshot of voter sentiment ahead of the vote. The Euronews Albania Barometer’s third measurement (22 March–3 April 2025, 1,600 respondents) showed the PS leading with 40.6% support, followed by the PD-led coalition at 30%. A final MRB/Euronews Albania projection (5 May 2025) estimates the PS at 48.2%, the PD at 31.9%, “Shqipëria Bëhet” at 7.9%, “Partia Mundësia” at 7.5%, “Levizja Bashke” at 2%, and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) at 1.8%.
International organisations and observers have underscored the elections’ importance for Albania’s democratic credibility and EU integration. The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has emphasised transparency and adherence to democratic standards, with preliminary findings due on 12 May.
Posts on X from OSCEinAlbania highlight progress in diaspora voting and electoral technology but raise concerns about the misuse of state resources, media bias, and campaign finance transparency. Quint ambassadors (United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy) have called for implementing ODIHR recommendations to strengthen electoral reforms. The EU Delegation in Tirana has echoed these sentiments, stressing that a transparent and inclusive process is vital for Albania’s EU accession negotiations, which hinge on judicial and anti-corruption reforms.
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