Voting Concludes in Albania's Election Focused on EU Membership and Edi Rama's Fourth Term

Albania's parliamentary election concluded with voting ending on Sunday. The campaign was marked by the country's ongoing efforts to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama's pursuit of a fourth term. Polls closed at 7 pm local time, and vote counting is expected to finish within two days. The nation, with a population of 2.8 million, has about 3.7 million eligible voters due to mass emigration.

For the first time, Albanians living abroad could participate in the election, with approximately 191,000 casting their votes by mail. Voters were selecting 140 lawmakers for four-year terms from 2,046 candidates across 11 political groups, including three coalitions. Preliminary turnout was reported at 41.41% by 6 pm, which is 4% lower than in the previous election in 2021.

EU Membership and Economic Promises

The Socialist Party, led by Rama, has promised EU membership within five years while facing conservative opponents who offer competing promises of pay increases. The introduction of overseas voting and new parties has added unpredictability to the election, alongside a shift towards social media campaigning and a recent TikTok ban.

Economic issues have been central to the campaign. The Socialists aim to boost tourism from 10 million arrivals in 2024 to 30 million by 2030 through infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, the Democrats criticize the government's performance, citing over a million Albanians leaving the country in the past decade.

Corruption and Judicial Reforms

Despite Albania's rise in Transparency International's corruption index from 116th in 2013 to 80th in 2024, corruption remains a significant challenge for EU integration. Judicial reforms initiated in 2016 have led to investigations and prosecutions of senior officials. However, both major parties have candidates facing corruption allegations.

Rama's Socialists claim credit for judicial reforms, while Berisha has pledged to dismantle what he calls a biased judiciary under Rama's influence. Berisha himself faces corruption charges and awaits trial.

Social Media and Campaign Dynamics

Social media played a crucial role in this election cycle. Rama engaged voters through daily Facebook livestreams, while Berisha also used social media but less frequently. The government imposed a year-long TikTok ban due to concerns over incitement and online bullying, which opposition parties criticized as censorship.

The campaign saw heightened political rhetoric despite an ombudsman's code of conduct aimed at promoting ethical campaigning. Rama referred to Berisha as a "swamp owl," implying corruption, while Berisha labeled Rama as a "chief gangster."

Election Observations

The voting process was mostly peaceful with minor incidents involving candidates and supporters across the country. Ilirjan Celibashi, head of the Central Election Commission, stated that "for the most part, excluding some sporadic cases, the process has been in line with the rules and standards." Over 570 international observers monitored the election.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Albania to continue reforms in governance and anti-corruption efforts to progress towards EU membership. Sali Berisha, Rama's main challenger and former president and prime minister, argues that Albania is not yet ready for EU membership.

Analyst Lutfi Dervishi expressed skepticism about any significant changes resulting from this election. "It's a campaign without debate and results without surprises," he said. "Elections won't shake up the current scene – neither the system nor the main actors."

With inputs from PTI