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The Independent
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Albania's prime minister thanks voters for landslide win and pledges EU membership by 2030
Albania's prime minister on Wednesday thanked hundreds of thousands of voters who supported his Socialist Party in the last parliamentary elections, backing his pledge to take the country into the European Union in five years. Edi Rama, leader of the left-wing Socialist Party, held a celebratory rally in Tirana's main Skanderbeg Square. The event, attended by thousands of supporters waving Albanian and EU flags, took place in front of a big poster prepared for Friday's European Political Community summit, or EPC, a forum that gathers European leaders with the aim of boosting security and prosperity across the continent. With only diaspora ballots remaining to be fully counted, the ruling Socialists achieved a landslide victory, winning 83 seats in the 140-seat Parliament in the May 11 polls, according to the Central Election Commission. With those numbers, the Socialists are likely to govern alone. Rama's Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years, with negotiations concluding by 2027 and becoming a member in 2030. That is a pledge met with skepticism by the Democrats, who contend Albania is far from prepared. 'Most Albanians, within and outside Albania, think Albania is on the right path," Rama said at Wednesday's rally. 'Albania can only achieve EU membership by 2030 through our collective effort, led by me and the Socialist Party.' The conservative Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha, former prime minister and president, won only 50 seats. The remaining seats went to four smaller political parties. Preliminary turnout Sunday was almost 42.16%, or 4% lower than four years ago. For the first time, those in the diaspora could vote and cast their ballots by mail. About 195,000 mailed their votes. Eligible voters in Albania and abroad voted to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year term. Because of mass emigration, the Balkan country of 2.4 million people has a total of nearly 3.7 million eligible voters. Berisha's Democrats alleged irregularities, including issues with the diaspora ballots, and have accused the Socialists, without providing evidence, of purchasing votes and employing other illicit tactics. They have said they would not recognize the results. On Friday, to coincide with the EPC summit, the Democrats will hold a protest against the alleged manipulation of the May election. The European Union hailed Albania's election as 'calm and well organized, despite some shortcomings,' and urged all political forces "to ensure the continued functioning of the country's institutions.' A joint international observation mission, including the European Parliament, noted that despite being competitive and professionally managed, the election was marked by the ruling party's misuse of public resources, a confrontational and polarizing tone, divisive language from both main parties and unbalanced media coverage of smaller parties.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Albanian preliminary polls results show a clear win for the ruling Socialists
TIRANA, Albania — Preliminary results in Albania's parliamentary election on Tuesday give a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party which attracted voters supporting the country's uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama's bid for a fourth term. With about 96% of the votes counted, Rama's left-wing Socialists got 52.09% of the votes, or 82 seats in the 140-seat Assembly, or Parliament, followed by the opposition center-right Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha with 34.44%, or 52 seats. Three other small parties will take the rest.
13-05-2025
- Politics
Albanian preliminary polls results show a clear win for the ruling Socialists
TIRANA, Albania -- Preliminary results in Albania's parliamentary election on Tuesday give a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party which attracted voters supporting the country's uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama's bid for a fourth term. With about 96% of the votes counted, Rama's left-wing Socialists got 52.09% of the votes, or 82 seats in the 140-seat Assembly, or Parliament, followed by the opposition center-right Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha with 34.44%, or 52 seats. Three other small parties will take the rest. With that number the left-wing Socialists may govern alone. Preliminary turnout Sunday was almost 42.21%, or 4% lower than four years ago. The Central Election Commission, the electoral executive, has said that by law the final results come out 48 hours after the vote ends. The results may be delayed following a request of the opposition not to consider ballots mailed from the diaspora in neighboring Greece, some 53,000, claiming they are manipulated. For the first time, those in the diaspora could cast postal votes. About 195,000 mailed in their votes. Eligible voters in Albania and abroad voted to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year mandate in the Balkan nation. Because of mass emigration, the country of 2.4 million people has a total of nearly 3.7 million eligible voters. Diaspora votes from Greece may move number of seats in three or four areas in favor of the leftwing Socialists. The opposition claims they were manipulated by Socialist supporters. The postal company said it has confirmation signatures of all the voters in Greece. Rama's Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years which is an ambitious pledge, while battling Sali Berisha of the conservative Democratic Party opponents who argues that Albania still isn't ready for the bloc's membership. Berisha's Democrats claim irregularities during the vote and also with those of the diaspora, hinting they may not recognize the results. On Friday, the opposition will hold a protest against the alleged election manipulation. The protest will coincide with a European Political Community summit being held in Tirana. 'The friends who will come should listen to the people's voice asking for a free vote and also that a tyrant, a narco-dictator is not allowing them but using all violent tools to grab the vote,' said Berisha. A joint international observation mission noted that despite being competitive and professionally managed, the election process so far was marked by the ruling party's misuse of public resources, a confrontational and polarizing tone, the two main political parties using divisive language, untransparent financing, and unbalanced media coverage of smaller parties.
BreakingNews.ie
13-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Albanian preliminary polls results show clear win for ruling Socialists
Preliminary results in Albania's parliamentary election on Tuesday give a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party, which attracted voters supporting the country's uphill effort to join the European Union and prime minister Edi Rama's bid for a fourth term. With about 96% of the votes counted, Mr Rama's left-wing Socialists got 52.09% of the votes, or 82 seats in the 140-seat Assembly, or Parliament, followed by the opposition centre-right Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha with 34.44%, or 52 seats. Three other small parties will take the rest. Advertisement With that number, the left-wing Socialists may govern alone. Preliminary turnout Sunday was almost 42.21%, or 4% lower than four years ago. The Central Election Commission, the electoral executive, has said that by law, the final results come out 48 hours after the vote ends. The results may be delayed following a request of the opposition not to consider ballots mailed from the diaspora in neighbouring Greece, some 53,000, claiming they are manipulated. Advertisement For the first time, those in the diaspora could cast postal votes. About 195,000 mailed in their votes. Eligible voters in Albania and abroad voted to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year mandate in the Balkan nation. Because of mass emigration, the country of 2.4 million people has a total of nearly 3.7 million eligible voters. Diaspora votes from Greece may move the number of seats in three or four areas in favour of the left-wing Socialists. The opposition claims they were manipulated by Socialist supporters. Advertisement The postal company said it has confirmation signatures of all the voters in Greece. Mr Rama's Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years which is an ambitious pledge, while battling Mr Berisha of the conservative Democratic Party opponents, who argues that Albania still isn't ready for the bloc's membership. Mr Berisha's Democrats claim irregularities during the vote and also with those of the diaspora, hinting they may not recognise the results. On Friday, the opposition will hold a protest against the alleged election manipulation. The protest will coincide with a European Political Community summit being held in Tirana. Advertisement Mr Berisha said: 'The friends who will come should listen to the people's voice asking for a free vote and also that a tyrant, a narco-dictator is not allowing them but using all violent tools to grab the vote.' A joint international observation mission noted that despite being competitive and professionally managed, the election process so far was marked by the ruling party's misuse of public resources, a confrontational and polarising tone, the two main political parties using divisive language, untransparent financing, and unbalanced media coverage of smaller parties.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Albanian preliminary polls results show a clear win for the ruling Socialists
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Preliminary results in Albania's parliamentary election on Tuesday give a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party which attracted voters supporting the country's uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama's bid for a fourth term. With about 96% of the votes counted, Rama's left-wing Socialists got 52.09% of the votes, or 82 seats in the 140-seat Assembly, or Parliament, followed by the opposition center-right Democratic Party-led coalition of Sali Berisha with 34.44%, or 52 seats. Three other small parties will take the rest. With that number the left-wing Socialists may govern alone. Preliminary turnout Sunday was almost 42.21%, or 4% lower than four years ago. The Central Election Commission, the electoral executive, has said that by law the final results come out 48 hours after the vote ends. The results may be delayed following a request of the opposition not to consider ballots mailed from the diaspora in neighboring Greece, some 53,000, claiming they are manipulated. For the first time, those in the diaspora could cast postal votes. About 195,000 mailed in their votes. Eligible voters in Albania and abroad voted to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year mandate in the Balkan nation. Because of mass emigration, the country of 2.4 million people has a total of nearly 3.7 million eligible voters. Diaspora votes from Greece may move number of seats in three or four areas in favor of the leftwing Socialists. The opposition claims they were manipulated by Socialist supporters. The postal company said it has confirmation signatures of all the voters in Greece. Rama's Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years which is an ambitious pledge, while battling Sali Berisha of the conservative Democratic Party opponents who argues that Albania still isn't ready for the bloc's membership. Berisha's Democrats claim irregularities during the vote and also with those of the diaspora, hinting they may not recognize the results. On Friday, the opposition will hold a protest against the alleged election manipulation. The protest will coincide with a European Political Community summit being held in Tirana. 'The friends who will come should listen to the people's voice asking for a free vote and also that a tyrant, a narco-dictator is not allowing them but using all violent tools to grab the vote,' said Berisha. A joint international observation mission noted that despite being competitive and professionally managed, the election process so far was marked by the ruling party's misuse of public resources, a confrontational and polarizing tone, the two main political parties using divisive language, untransparent financing, and unbalanced media coverage of smaller parties.
