Elections in Albania: Edi Rama hopes for a fourth term

Albanija will hold its first parliamentary elections on Sunday (May 11th) since it formally began accession negotiations with the European Union in July 2022.

Prime Minister Edi Rama and his ruling Socialist Party (SP) are aiming for a historic fourth term, while the opposition is fragmented, with the Democratic Party (DP) as the second strongest political force, followed by a number of smaller parties and movements, writes Deutsche Welle (DW). 

These elections are considered a defining moment for Albania's democratic path, its commitment to the fight against corruption and its long-standing aspiration to join the EU.

A campaign based on EU accession

The Socialist Party started its election campaign on April 12 at noon in Skanderbeg Square, with a lot of symbolism.

In the center of the stage was a hand with five fingers outstretched and the EU flag, but with 12 stars, which were intended to emphasize the 12 years of the Socialist Party in power and to send a message that EU integration is the main political goal of this party. The slogan "Albania 2030 in the EU" further underlines this message.

"Only we hold Albania's European future in our hands," Prime Minister Rama said, urging voters to support his party, which he says is the only political force capable of securing EU membership.

Can SP guarantee EU membership?

However, political analysts claim that EU membership is primarily a technical process, based on meeting specific criteria set by Brussels. These criteria go beyond political slogans and seek sustainable institutional reforms.

"Using EU integration as an election message harms the true meaning of the process, because Albania needs to implement reforms, build a functional rule of law, fight corruption and go through a broad social transformation," political analyst Afrim Krasnići, executive director of the Albanian Institute for Political Studies, told DW.

"This promise is a spectacular approach," adds Elvin Luka, professor of communications at the University of Tirana. "Twelve years in power have worn this government down, so the promise of a European Union passport seems like the only option left to step up the campaign," he told DW.

Divided opposition now united

"This is the strongest coalition Albania has seen in the last 32 years," Sali Berisha, former prime minister and leader of the Democratic Party (DP), said in March, representing an alliance of opposition parties called the Alliance for a Magnificent Albania.

In an attempt to gain the trust and support of voters on May 11, this alliance promises to improve citizens' living standards, with proposals such as increasing the average salary to 1.200 euros and increasing pensions by 20 percent.

However, after 12 years in opposition and with several divisions within the Democratic Party, this alliance is still facing numerous challenges.

Accusations of corruption

Although Berisha's release from house arrest, after the Albanian judiciary raised accusations of corruption, briefly revived the base of the Democratic Party, the former prime minister remained under investigation but also under sanctions by the USA and the UK for corruption and undermining democracy, which limits his credibility on the international stage.

Berisha's ally Ilir Meta – former president and leader of the Freedom Party – had to remain in prison. He was arrested in 2024 on charges of corruption and money laundering.

According to Afrim Krasnići, the list of opposition candidates clearly indicates that the goal of the opposition is to provide immunity and protection for persons under investigation, and not to reform the party itself.

New parties want to shake up Albanian politics

In a political landscape long dominated by the SP and the DP, several new parties entered the electoral race, trying to offer a reformist alternative.

Among them are the Movement Together - a left-wing movement with roots in civil activism, Creation of Albania - a party born out of the anti-corruption struggle, and Opportunity, led by entrepreneur and former MP Agron Šehaj.

Although poll results suggest that these new parties have limited chances of influence, analysts see their participation as a positive development for Albanian democracy.

"For the first time, we see new parties that are not branches of the old ones, but offer voters new alternatives. This helps to make politics less centralized," says Krasnići.

Changes to the electoral law

Recent changes to the electoral law introduced a form of preferential voting, allowing voters to select candidates they prefer within a party list.

However, one key limitation remains: a third of the candidates on the list remain, which means that the ranking of the candidates in this part is determined by the party leaders and cannot be changed by the voters, which means that these candidates have secure mandates.

Political analysts argue that what appears to be a party opening to voters is actually a mechanism that strengthens the control of the party leadership and limits real competition.

According to Afrim Krasnići, political rivalry now takes place within parties, reducing competition between opposing parties.

A threat to the justice system?

As Albania's main political parties enter the final days of campaigning for Sunday's parliamentary elections, promising to strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption, their lists of candidates tell a different story.

Both the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party have included candidates, who are currently under investigation by Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK).

According to the data of the civic organization Civic Center (Qendresa Gyetare), 15 candidates from SP and DP are under investigation, of which seven are in positions for secure mandates.

Although this does not technically violate the law, political analysts argue that it represents an undermining of the justice system.

"The inclusion of candidates who are under criminal investigation by a major party is a step backwards for democracy in Albania," says Rigels Dzemolari, executive director of the Civic Center organization. "Some of the names on the lists are family members of known criminals or individuals, who were previously removed from politics in accordance with the decriminalization law," he adds.

Dzemolari warns that these candidates, if elected to parliament, could play a significant role in undermining the judicial system. Meanwhile, SPAK announced that it is currently investigating 35 cases of election fraud.

Elections as a critical test for EU integration

According to an April 28 report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the political environment in Albania is characterized by "a high degree of polarization and mistrust between the two main parties," raising concerns about the conduct of a fair and just election process.

Sunday's elections are considered a decisive test of Albania's democratic maturity and its path to EU membership.