Edi Rama wins unprecedented fourth term in Albania
According to Reuters, if confirmed, the result would extend the PS’s majority and allow Rama to continue pursuing his central campaign promise: full European Union membership by 2030.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has secured a historic fourth consecutive term in office following a landslide victory for his Socialist Party (PS) in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. With 98% of ballots counted, official results show PS winning 52% of the vote and securing 82 seats in the 140-seat parliament. The main opposition, the Democratic Party (PD), trailed with 34% of the vote and 52 seats.
According to Reuters, if confirmed, the result would extend the PS’s majority and allow Rama to continue pursuing his central campaign promise: full European Union membership by 2030. However, experts remain skeptical about that timeline, citing the urgent need for deep institutional reforms, particularly in combating corruption.
Accusations of Electoral Misconduct
The integrity of the vote has already been called into question. Albania’s special prosecutor is investigating 39 election-related cases, primarily for vote-buying. Though the prosecutor has not disclosed which parties are under suspicion, the allegations cast a shadow over the results.
International observers also raised alarms. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) cited “misuse of public resources” by the ruling party and noted “pressure on public employees” as well as “cases of intimidation.” A joint EU statement described the vote as “highly polarised” and stressed the lack of a level playing field.
PD leader Sali Berisha, a former president and prime minister, refused to recognize the results and called for a mass protest on May 16, when European leaders are scheduled to gather in Tirana for a regional summit. “We will never accept these elections—never,” Berisha declared at a press conference, while labeling Rama a “narco-dictator.”
In response, Rama’s Socialist Party dismissed the fraud allegations and fired back at Berisha, calling him “an old, hopeless former communist politician.”
A Campaign of Power and Promises
Rama, in power since 2013, ran on a platform of stability, EU integration, and economic progress. His 12-year reign has been marked by solid economic growth and close ties with Western allies, including hosting Afghan refugees and cooperating with Italy on migrant issues.
In a controversial move just two days before the election, Rama announced a sweeping amnesty on government fines from the past nine years—a decision some critics labeled as a populist vote-buying tactic.
Despite corruption scandals and rising public discontent over unemployment and emigration, Rama’s grip on power remains firm. Analysts credit his robust political network and a fractured opposition for his continued dominance.
“No one expected there to be a qualified majority for a single party. It is like [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban in his best days,” political analyst Lutfi Dervishi noted.
A Divided Nation
At home, many Albanians express frustration with entrenched political elites. “I will vote for new politicians because those like Rama and Berisha have been here for three decades and they only replace themselves,” said Arber Qazimi, a 21-year-old voter in Tirana.
Since Rama’s rise to power, hundreds of thousands of Albanians have left the country in search of better opportunities abroad, a reflection of the domestic challenges still facing the nation.
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