Albanian elections: Edi Rama aims for a fourth term as Prime Minister
Edi Rama, the prime minister aiming for an unprecedented fourth term, is going up against his old rival Sali Berisha in Albania's parliamentary elections. With the promise of EU membership within the next five years and allegations of widespread corruption swirling, Albanians headed to the polls on Sunday, 2025.
Prime Minister Rama has a commanding lead over Berisha, who has been weakened by a corruption probe. However, his party may need the assistance of smaller parties to maintain a narrow four-seat majority.
In power since 2013, Rama has been delivering on economic growth, with trade with the EU and a tourism boom that outpaces other Balkan countries. Yet, corruption remains a concern.
Emphasizing the path towards EU integration, Rama has positioning himself well, earning support from over four out of five citizens[2]. His government aims to reach a €35 billion GDP by 2030[3].
Sali Berisha, an 80-year-old veteran of Albanian politics, leads the conservative Democratic Party and has faced challenges in his campaign. Plagued by party feuds and corruption allegations, he has adopted a populist "Make Albania Great Again" strategy[2]. Despite his historical influence, Berisha has not been able to garner the same level of public support as Rama[2][3].
A total of 3.7 million Albanian citizens are eligible to elect 140 members of parliament, with the Albanian diaspora participating in the vote for the first time. With polls showing a likely Rama victory and a focus on EU membership, the 2025 Albanian elections mark a pivotal moment for the country's future[3].
- Edi Rama, despite facing corruption allegations, is currently leading Albania's political landscape, campaigning for an unprecedented fourth term as prime minister.
- The Albanian diaspora has been linked to the voting process for the first time in the 2025 parliamentary elections, potentially providing shortcuts for parties to court their support.
- Migration and policy-and-legislation surrounding these issues, particularly regarding EU membership, have been at the forefront of both Rama's and Berisha's election campaigns.
- Crime-and-justice and the promise to combat corruption have also been key topics in the political discourse, with Rama focusing on long-term policy solutions, and Berisha adopting a populist approach.
- Amidst war-and-conflicts and economic changes in the region, general news outlets have been closely monitoring the 2025 Albanian elections, with the potential outcome strongly linked to the country's future political climate.
