Tirana [Albania], May 11 : Albania heads to the polls today for its parliamentary elections, with Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Socialist Party aiming for a historic fourth consecutive term in office.
Roughly 3.7 million Albanian citizens are eligible to vote, including, for the first time, members of the Albanian diaspora. Voters will elect 140 members to the national parliament, with preliminary results expected by tomorrow.
According to the latest opinion polls, Rama’s Socialists are projected to win between 49.9% and 50.5% of the vote — translating to approximately 74–75 parliamentary seats, which is just enough for a governing majority. The main opposition bloc, led by the Democratic Party, is polling between 37% and 41%, with an expected 54–59 seats — a decline compared to previous elections.
The election is being viewed as a critical juncture in Albania’s democratic development, particularly in relation to the nation’s battle against corruption and its long-standing ambition to join the European Union. Rama’s campaign has focused heavily on advancing EU accession talks and strengthening public institutions.
If successful, this would mark a record-breaking fourth term for both Rama and the Socialist Party, reinforcing their political dominance in the Balkan nation.