State of Democracy in Albania

Albania is a robust democracy with a record of competitive elections. Last parliamentary elections held on 25^th April 2021 was also quite competitive in which ruling left-wing Socialist Party won 49 percent of the vote and 74 of 140 seats while the main opposition centre-right Democratic Party got 39 percent of the votes and 59 seats. Ally of Democratic Party, the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI), won 7% of the vote and 4 seats. This was the third straight mandate for Socialists. For the first time Albanian voters selected individual candidates in addition to political parties in this very election.

After clinching a record third term in office, PM Edi Rama called on parties to work with him to make Albania the ‘Balkan champion’ in tourism. He told supporters they had delivered his party’s “most difficult but sweetest” election triumph, as he had secured a record third term in office. “We broke the record. It was a historic record. Thank you for placing your faith in us to lead you for another four years,” Edi Rama told thousands of supporters in central Tirana. “My dream … is to make Albania in this decade … the Balkan champion, in tourism and agro-tourism, in energy and agriculture and in fast, qualitative, incorruptible digital services,” said he.

The conduct of the 2021 parliamentary election was closely watched by diplomats from the United States and the European Union, with Albania pushing to open membership talks with the bloc. Even though the campaign was filled with bitter insults between candidates and blemished by a gunfight between rival supporters, international observers said the election was “characterised by a lively and inclusive campaign,” though the misuse of public funds in campaigning raised concerns. This was noted by the European Union in a statement from European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell and European Neighbourhood Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, who said: “Albania has come a long way on its path towards the European Union.” “We expect the new Albanian parliament and government to continue pursuing the country’s reform agenda with determination, particularly on the rule of law.”

Parties frequently dispute the outcome of elections in this Balkan nation of roughly 2.8 million people – the vote in 2017 prompted street protests and few opposition MPs boycotted parliament. Edi Rama, who has continually promised government improvements, continued the spirit of pacification during his victory rally after 2021 win, calling on opposition parties to work along with him to make Albania a “Balkan champion” in tourism. “I will be the prime minister of all Albanians,” he told the crowd, who chanted “victory, victory”.

Albania will hold next parliamentary elections on 11^th May 2025 with the ruling Socialist Party tipped to win once again after the main opposition force, the Democratic Party, has been stuck in a long crisis, with in-fighting between rival factions within the party resulting in leadership changes. After the 2021 parliamentary elections, Sali Berisha, a significant figure within the Democratic Party, was sanctioned by the US State Department for “involvement in significant corruption”. The crisis began when Berisha did not accept the exclusion from the party’s parliamentary group, announced by then leader Lulzim Basha.