Election results Albania is delayed, pro-European Prime Minister Rama is heading for win

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and his socialist party (PS) seem to be heading for a great victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Albania. « Seems, » because the results of the elections is surrounded by fog. For unknown reasons, the Albanian media published on Sunday evening No exit pollsas usual in earlier elections. The results came out bit by bit on Monday. The National Electoral Only expect the full result on Tuesday afternoon.

Provisional results indicate an absolute majority for Rama’s government party. Monday morning led the PS With 53 percent of the votes, good for 84 of the 140 parliament seats. The most important opposition party, the center -right Democratic Party (PD), led by Rama’s arch enemy Sali Berisha, was 34 percent, good for fifty seats. The turnout was low: 42 percent. For the first time, Albanians voted for abroad: 246,000 of the 3.7 million voters.

With these figures, the colorful and internationally loved Rama (60) gets a fourth term as prime minister. The former basketball player and artist, who says he hates politics in every interview, has been a prime minister since 2013. Before that he has been the mayor of capital Tirana, from 2000 to 2011. Rama has been able to survive for a quarter of a century in a highly polished political arena, whereby the perspective of opponents is the rule rather than an exception.

Politicians in prison

Corruption is the keyword in Albanian politics. The special structure against corruption and organized crime (Spak), founded under European pressure by Rama, is researching politicians from various parties. Sali Berisha (80) is persona non grata in the US and the UK and is being continued in Albania for corruption. Former president Ilir Meta and Erion Veliaj, mayor of Tirana and once a companion of Rama, are in prison on suspicion of corruption. The opposition reproaches Rama for sold Albania to Oligarchs who launder their drug money with real estate. The handle of his party on the government is almost complete, independent media are under fire.

Also These elections found in the midst of accusations of purchased voices, intimidation of voters and other malversations. Two new political initiatives hoped to break through the stuck duopoly of PS and PD, but seem to have conquered only a modest number of seats.

Warm ties with EU

Rama’s most important election promise is rapid accession from Albania to the European Union. Just like neighboring Montenegro, Rama is aiming for completing the negotiations in 2027 and membership in 2030. The EU supports that ambition. The warm ties between Europe and Albania will be discussed again this week at the Visit from António Costachairman of the European Council, to the six countries of the Western Balkans and at the top of the European political community, On Friday in Tirana.

Rama has opened his country for foreign tourists and cherishes the traditionally good relationship of Albania with Italy. Last weekend started Cycling round Giro d’Italia For the first time in Albania. With Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rama closed the ‘Albania deal’ about the reception of migrants in Albania, a deal that by the way not bad off the ground comes.

The government of Rama also maintains a good relationship with the US, for example by offering services. After the fall of Kabul in 2021, Albania offered Afghans on the way to USA temporarily In a tourist place. Trumps son -in -law Jared Kushner develops a luxury resort On an island in front of the Albanian coast, a project that is controversial for several reasons.

Remarkably, it was the opposition that supported Trump in the election campaign. And vice versa: three advisers of Trump, including Paul Manafort, Was by Rama’s opponent Berisha hired for the campaign. Berisha’s party was proud of the American aid, which included the entire campaign, from strategy for communication. However, the slogan ‘Make Albania Great Again’ went wrong. He aroused resentment among neighboring countries because of the alleged ambition for territorial expansion. ‘Groot’ was changed to the Albanian word for ‘majestic’.

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