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Albania casts votes for essential legislative acts pivotal to its admission into the European Union

Prime Minister Edi Rama may pursue a fourth successive term, marking a historical first. Entered office in 2013, he vows to achieve Albania's integration into the European Union by 2030.

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Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama intends to seek a fourth consecutive term, marking an...
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama intends to seek a fourth consecutive term, marking an unprecedented run. Entering the role in 2013, Rama has pledged Albania's integration into the European Union by 2030.

Albania casts votes for essential legislative acts pivotal to its admission into the European Union

Fresh Take:

Prepare for the polls, Albania! Almost 4 million voters will determine the future of this Balkan nation on May 11, 2025, in a pivotal election that could either seal Edi Rama's long-standing tenure or hand the reins over to Sali Berisha and his opposition coalition.

Edi Rama, the 60-year-old Socialist Party head, has steered the country as Prime Minister since 2013. His vision of joining the European Union (EU) by 2030 has been the cornerstone of his campaign. However, accusations of links with organized crime by the opposition threaten to derail his re-election bid. Read more: Edi Rama, the Albanian prime minister who multiplies media stunts to accelerate his country's EU accession.

On the other side of the aisle, Sali Berisha, a 80-year-old right-wing figure, aspires to create a "Great Albania," offering economic revival and a program similar to US President Donald Trump's. Despite being persona non grata in the US and UK due to alleged ties with organized crime and corruption, Berisha is also facing charges of passive corruption in Albania.

The economy, primarily focusing on pensions, wages, infrastructure, and tourism, has been the central issue of the campaign. To secure a majority in the 140-seat Kuvendi, the Assembly, a party needs over 70 seats.

A Tumultuous Path to the Polls

Contentious elections have been a recurring theme in Albanian politics since the fall of communism, with winners' claims frequently followed by allegations of fraud. This time, over 2,000 foreign and Albanian observers will monitor the elections, knowing that the world is watching closely as these elections test the functionality of fragile institutions following a strident campaign. Albanian political life is known for verbal excess and inflammatory rhetoric.

A New Twist: The Diaspora Vote

For the first time in Albanian history, the diaspora abroad will have the opportunity to vote. The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) reports that nearly 246,000 Albanians residing abroad are registered to cast their ballots. The voting process faced challenges, such as delivery delays and address errors in ballot shipments.

According to the CEC, preliminary results are expected within a couple of days following the vote, just before a summit of the European Political Community—a structure comprising 47 European countries—scheduled in Tirana on May 16, 2025 Also read | Article reserved for our subscribers: In Albania, spectacular anti-corruption purges in the judiciary].

Awaiting the Outcome

As this watershed moment approaches, the nation watches with bated breath, hoping for a smooth electoral process and the beginning of a new chapter in its European dream. The stakes are high, and both camps are gearing up for a fierce battle to shape the direction of Albania's future. Stay tuned for the results.

[1] [source1][2] [source2][3] [source3][4] [source4][5] [source5]

  1. The general election in Albania on May 11, 2025, marks a critical point in the transport of power as 4 million voters decide whether to continue Edi Rama's tenure or hand it over to the opposition led by Sali Berisha.
  2. The involvement of the international community, with over 2,000 observers, is a testament to the importance of Albania's polling within world politics, as it scrutinizes the functionality of the nation's institutions amidst a heated campaign.
  3. This heated political discourse, a characteristic of Albanian politics, has been influenced by the policy-and-legislation proposals of both parties. Edi Rama's commitment to integrating Albania into the EU by 2030 contrasts with Sali Berisha's goal of creating a Great Albania, inspired by US President Donald Trump's agenda.
  4. Issues like pensions, wages, infrastructure, and tourism have dominated the political landscape, as parties compete for 70 or more seats in the 140-seat Kuvendi, the Assembly, to secure a majority.
  5. The diaspora's involvement in the voting process, for the first time in Albanian history, adds an extra layer of complexity to the elections. With nearly 246,000 Albanians abroad registered to vote, the Central Electoral Commission is managing challenges related to delivery delays and address errors in ballot shipments.
  6. The aftermath of the election will unveil the outcome of the climactic battle between the two camps, potentially shaping Albania's future trajectory in war-and-conflicts, migration, crime-and-justice, and other general-news topics, leading either to the triumph of Edi Rama's European dream or Sali Berisha's vision for a Great Albania.

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