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Parliamentary elections/ DW: SP secures fourth mandate! Berisha accuses ruling party of manipulating process

2025-05-13 02:18:22 / POLITIKË ALFA PRESS
Parliamentary elections/ DW: SP secures fourth mandate! Berisha accuses ruling

For the first time since the 1991 pluralist elections, a political party in Albania is on the verge of securing its fourth consecutive governing mandate, a historic precedent for the country.

Preliminary results of the 2025 parliamentary elections, after counting about 60% of the ballot boxes, show a clear lead for Prime Minister Edi Rama's Socialist Party, which has secured 52.5% of the votes or 83 seats.

In second place is the Democratic Party and its allies with 33.9% of the votes or 51 seats. The third force in the Assembly is expected to be Tom Doshi's Social Democratic Party with three seats, while for the first time, three new political formations – Agron Shehaj's "Mundësia", "Nisma Shqipëria Bëhet" and Arlind Qori's "Lëvizja Bashkë" – are on the threshold of securing one MP each.

Berisha accuses SP of manipulating the electoral process
Former Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, listed strong accusations against the Socialist Party for irregularities and manipulation of the elections in front of journalists. He said that the elections were held under unequal conditions and influenced by government actions that, according to him, aimed to orient the vote. “If you saw the forgiveness of about 150 million euros in fines of over 170 thousand citizens, then you call the elections your own,” said Berisha, describing this as a form of electoral pressure.

The opposition leader stated, among other things, that the socialists have bought votes, as well as used the public administration in favor of the party. “When tens of hectares of cannabis are planted for votes, when thousands of people are employed to buy votes, when illegal PS offices are set up near polling stations, this is no longer a fair competition,” Berisha declared. The opposition leader did not give a clear answer as to whether he would contest the election results, stating that “we are waiting for the final result to assess the situation and determine our position.”

Peaceful elections, but not equal in opportunities
Although the May 11 elections were peaceful and well-managed, there were still shortcomings in terms of equality in the competition, according to the preliminary report of the OSCE/ODIHR international observer mission.

“The parliamentary elections were competitive and professionally organized, but they took place in a polarized climate. There were also attacks from key political party leaders, especially online,” the head of the OSCE mission, Lamberto Zannier, told the media. Observers noted that the ruling party benefited from public resources and institutional strength, while cases of pressure on voters, especially for public sector employees, were also reported.

SP and DP dominated media coverage during the campaign
According to the report, the two main parties, the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party, dominated media coverage during the campaign, leaving little space for new political actors. This year's elections are considered by international partners as an important test for Albania's democratic progress in the context of the European Union integration process.

“Democratic form and European integration go hand in hand. Delays feed into each other,” the OSCE/ODIHR statement said. Recurring problems such as transparency in party financing and the use of state resources for electoral purposes, they said, remain key challenges that must be addressed to move forward towards EU membership.

International observers also praised the role of the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) in investigating electoral crimes. So far, SPAK has opened 39 cases related to the May 11 elections: 33 of them for active electoral corruption, four for active and passive corruption, one for using public office for political purposes, and one for abuse of office. /DW

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