TIRANA (Eurotoday) – Albania’s 2025 parliamentary elections, widely seen as pivotal for the country’s democratic trajectory and its European Union membership ambitions, have ended with a preliminary victory for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party (SP). Early results indicate the party has secured a fourth consecutive term in office.
Based on data from 4,943 of the 5,225 polling stations—roughly 95% of the ballots—preliminary results show the Socialist Party leading with 52.09% of the vote. This positions them to claim 82 of the 140 seats in parliament.
The primary opposition coalition, the Democratic Party and the Alliance for a Greater Albania (DP-ASHM), garnered 34.50% of the vote, giving them an estimated 51 seats. The Social Democratic Party came in third with 3.47%, translating to three parliamentary seats.
Several emerging political forces made gains as well. The “Opportunity” Party won two seats, while the “Albania Initiative” coalition and the “Together Movement” Party each secured one seat.
Sunday’s vote was conducted under a newly reformed electoral system resulting from a rare bipartisan agreement in parliament. The hybrid model introduced both open and closed candidate lists, allowing voters greater influence over individual candidates, while preserving elements of party control. A total of 2,046 candidates—1,259 men and 787 women—vied for parliamentary seats across 11 political entities.
Notable independent candidates such as Adriatik Lapaj, Arlind Qori, and Agron Shehaj resonated with younger voters and those previously disengaged from the political process.
For the first time, more than 3.7 million Albanian citizens, including those living abroad, were eligible to vote. Over 254,000 ballots were sent to the diaspora, with nearly 75% returned—a sign of growing electoral inclusion. Additionally, over 114,000 first-time voters participated.
However, overall voter turnout was 42.21%, based on data from 3,037 voting centers—a drop from the 45.41% turnout in 2021.
The election campaign was largely peaceful and social media-driven, but opposition parties voiced concerns about the alleged misuse of public funds and reported pressure on civil servants. Election day saw isolated tensions: in Lushnje, a clash broke out between SP and DP supporters; in Vora, Democratic Party Secretary General Flamur Noka was accused of making threats during a confrontation with Socialist backers. In Tirana, Democratic Party members reported an incident involving the alleged distribution of sensitive election material and cash.
Authorities arrested seven individuals in connection with voting irregularities, including illegal photography of ballots. The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor (SPAK) deployed investigators across all 12 regions and confirmed that investigations into electoral violations are ongoing.
International observers, including monitors from the European Union and the OSCE/ODIHR, were present. Speaking from Durrës, EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato emphasized that transparent and fair elections are essential for Albania’s path toward EU accession.
Observers view the 2025 elections not merely as a contest for political power but as a crucial test of Albania’s democratic development and commitment to European integration.
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