Albanian election sees old rivals, new parties, ‘ambitious’ promise of EU membership

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama seeks fourth term in election amid EU aspirations, facing off against political nemesis.

Prime Minister Edi Rama is seeking a fourth term as Albania’s Prime Minister in a general election on Sunday (May 11, 2025), after taking on his political nemesis in a boisterous campaign dominated by the country’s uphill effort to join the European Union.

Mr. Rama’s Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years, sticking to an ambitious pledge while battling conservative opponents with public recriminations and competing promises of pay hikes.

Opening up the election to voters abroad for the first time has added to the volatility, along with the appearance of new parties, a shift in campaigning to social media and a recent TikTok ban. And Mr. Rama’s opponents have hired a heavy hitter from the United States to steer their campaign.

The country of 2.8 million people, with 3.7 million eligible voters including the diaspora casting ballots for the first time by mail, will elect 140 lawmakers to four-year terms, choosing from 2,046 candidates representing 11 political groupings, including three coalitions.

Turnout until 10 a.m., was 13.15%, according to the Central Election Commission, slightly less than four years ago. Polls close at 7 p.m. Results are expected in the next 48 hours, according to the election law.

Mr. Rama (60) secured the start of EU membership negotiations last October and is relying heavily on that momentum.

Under the party slogan “Albania 2030 in EU, Only with Edi and SP,” Mr. Rama insists that full EU accession is possible by 2030 with annual funding of 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion) upon joining.