Albanians went to the polls on Sunday as Prime Minister Edi Rama aims for a historic fourth term in a parliamentary election marked by EU membership promises and mounting corruption allegations. Voting began at 7 a.m. local time and ended at 7 p.m., with results expected Monday.
Rama, who has led the Socialist Party since 2013, holds a strong lead over former Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party. Despite a solid economic track record—including over 4% annual growth from 2022 to 2024—Rama faces backlash over a perceived erosion of democratic norms and high-profile scandals, including the recent arrest of Tirana’s mayor and close ally, Erion Veliaj, on corruption and money laundering charges. Both Veliaj and Berisha deny wrongdoing.
Rama has doubled down on his pledge to lead Albania into the European Union by 2030, though experts question the feasibility due to widespread graft and the need for deeper institutional reforms.
Public frustration is rising, especially among younger voters disillusioned with political figures who’ve dominated since the fall of communism in 1990. Many cite stark inequality, with luxury vehicles common in Tirana while others remain in crumbling Soviet-era housing.
Polls show Rama’s party surpassing 40% support but potentially needing smaller parties to preserve its slim majority in the 140-seat parliament.
“I want new leadership. Rama and Berisha just switch chairs,” said 21-year-old voter Arber Qazimi. Others, like student Erisa, plan to emigrate, joining hundreds of thousands of Albanians who’ve left in recent years.
Despite economic gains fueled by EU trade and a booming tourism sector, organized crime and money laundering continue to undermine Albania’s path to reform, casting uncertainty over its European aspirations.