Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, appears to have secured a historic fourth consecutive term in office, as near-complete vote counts show his Socialist Party leading decisively. With 94% of ballots counted, the Socialists were on track to win 52% of the vote, well ahead of the centre-right Democratic Party, which had 34%. The election, regarded as critical for Albania’s EU accession hopes, was marked by a low turnout of just over 42%, and preliminary results are expected to be finalised on Tuesday. Observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reported irregularities, including the alleged misuse of public resources and voter intimidation.
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Rama, in power since 2013, centred his campaign on EU integration, promising membership within five years following the formal launch of negotiations in October. His message resonated strongly with voters, particularly in light of broader European efforts to integrate western Balkan states amid geopolitical tensions sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Analysts also pointed to the influential role played by Albania’s diaspora, who for the first time were able to vote by post. Of the 246,000 Albanians registered abroad, over 192,000 submitted ballots, with many reportedly drawn by Rama’s EU-focused message.
His main opponent, 80-year-old Sali Berisha, a former president and controversial figure from Albania’s post-communist era, failed to gain traction despite forming an alliance with 20 other political parties. Berisha had adopted a US-style campaign, complete with foreign consultants and slogans modelled on Donald Trump’s, including “Make Albania Great Again”. However, his criticisms of Albania’s EU readiness did not find favour with a population where support for membership remains high—at 83%, the strongest in the western Balkans, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey.
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Despite concerns over democratic practices, Rama’s victory underscores both the dominance of his party and the symbolic power of EU integration in Albanian politics. Once known as Europe’s most isolated nation, Albania has made steady progress, opening 16 of the 35 required chapters in the accession process. Yet serious challenges remain, including entrenched corruption, organised crime, and ongoing emigration of young people. Rama, formerly the mayor of Tirana, continues to be seen as the face of modernisation, but his fourth term will be closely watched, both at home and across Europe.
