The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, following his victory in the Sunday elections, becomes the first Albanian prime minister to secure a fourth consecutive term.
With 98% of the votes counted, Rama’s Socialist Party (PS) received 52% of the vote, while the opposition Democratic Party (PD), led by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, received 34%. This gives Rama a majority government, with his party winning 82 out of 140 seats, and the opposition winning 52.
The victory comes amid opposition allegations of electoral fraud, with Berisha rejecting the results and calling for a protest on May 16, the day leaders from across Europe are expected to gather in the capital, Tirana, for a summit.
At the same time, international observers have questioned the fairness of the election, and a special prosecutor is investigating 39 cases of election violations (mainly related to vote-buying), though it has not been disclosed which party or parties are involved.
A special prosecutor is investigating 39 cases of election violations (mainly vote-buying), though it has not been revealed which party or parties are involved.
The main campaign promise of the 12-year prime minister is Albania’s accession to the EU by 2030. However, experts question this timeline due to the required reforms, particularly in eliminating corruption.
Corruption remains a significant issue, as criminal organizations are said to launder billions of euros from drug and arms trafficking in Albania, according to experts.
At the same time, the growth of trade with the EU and an increase in tourism have led to annual economic growth exceeding 4% for the period 2022-2024.
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