Albanian diaspora’s vote challenges Rama’s election triumph

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and his centre-left Socialist Party (PS) have swept to victory securing an unprecedented fourth term in government, following a campaign run on a promise of EU membership, but the first-time diaspora vote has caused issues in the process which could see final results stretched out for days, or even weeks to come.

With 42.2% of citizens in-country and 78% of the registered diaspora citizens using their vote, the PS secured almost 53% of votes with 95% of votes counted, leading them to a victory in 10 of the country’s 12 districts. This result translates into a lead of over 230,000 votes and 82 mandates for Rama and his government, at the time of publication, securing the majority to control parliament.

Second was the Greater Albania Coalition led by Sali Berisha and his Democratic Party with 34.5% (52 mandates), then the Nisma Thurje/Shqiperia Behet coalition with 3.49% (1 Mandate). Fourth was PSD with 3.47% (3 mandates), followed by the centre-right Partia Mundesia with 2.94% (1 mandate), and far-left Lejviza Bashke who also got one mandate. The Euroatlantic Democrats, headed by former Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha, will not be represented in parliament.

But the counting of the 191,000 diaspora votes is dragging on, with those from Greece suspended indefinitely due to a raft of procedural concerns, which remains a thorn in the side of the new government, and its beleaguered opposition.

A landslide win

The domestic vote result, announced on Tuesday, surpassed many expectations. Polls published before the vote suggested a win of 41.9%, while exit polls on the day foresaw 79 mandates for the PS. While the outstanding diaspora votes are unlikely to change the results for Rama, an artist, former basketball player, and ex-mayor of Tirana, problems with the process will do little to bolster Albanians’ fragile trust in democracy.

The counting process began after polling stations closed at 7 pm on Sunday. Plastic boxes stuffed with large, folded sheets of paper were painstakingly opened, checked, and counted, all under the watchful eye of partisan commissioners, journalists, politicians, and observers.

Observers from the Democratic Party coalition, led by former prime minister and president Sali Berisha, sounded the alarm over anomalies from votes coming from Greece. Legal advisor to the party, Marash Logu told the media, “We demand measures be taken to separate the Greek vote because it was accompanied by many anomalies…We will not allow violations to be transformed into election results.”

The PD claimed that the 52,000 Greek votes were not completed by the diaspora but by people from the PS, something the ruling party denies. The Central Electoral Commission accepted the PD’s request to set aside all Greek votes for now.

Other issues were also identified in Greece, including delays in delivering votes back to Albania from DHL. Out of 68,000 registered voters, only 25,00 ballots were reportedly returned by the start of last week, with others pouring in with just hours to spare before the deadline. There was even speculation that Greece sabotaged the process due to tensions between Rama and Mitsotakis and Greece’s unhappiness with the strength of the Albanian community in Greece and their leaning towards Rama.

Responding to the situation on Tuesday, the CEC clarified that the decision to suspend the counting of Greek votes was taken to ensure the “proper administration of the electoral documentation” and that the votes would not be excluded from the counting process. However, no further information has been given on when the votes will be counted, and when a final tally will be available.

A historic election

This national election has been historic for the country in two ways, firstly as Rama has now become the country’s longest-serving leader, second only to communist dictator Enver Hoxha who ruled Albania with an iron fist for 44 years. He has served a total of 12 consecutive years as prime minister and is now set to stay in office for another four.

But it was the diaspora’s vote that also made this election particularly interesting for observers. Albania is unique in that 2.4 million of its 4.6 million population live outside its borders, mainly in Greece, Italy, the US, Germany, and Canada. In all previous elections, they would have to return to Albania to vote in person, resulting in a years-long campaign to allow postal voting.

On 26 July 2024, their wish was finally granted, and legislators worked quickly to create a framework to facilitate it. The country’s Central Election Commission laid down a process whereby citizens with a valid Albanian ID would register via an online portal. After uploading a copy of their Albanian ID and proof of address abroad, they would be registered in the system. After registering, a secure ballot would be sent via registered mail, which should be signed for by the recipient at the moment of delivery. The vote must then be put into a pre-prepared envelope and returned via registered mail, with all costs covered by the Albanian state. Upon arrival in Albania, the votes were stored securely, ready to be counted after the polls closed.

More than 250,000 Albanians abroad registered to vote, and more than 191,000 returned their ballots.

But the process was not free from hiccups. Wannabe voters reported difficulties in registering, damaged envelopes, issues with printing, and delays from couriers.

Former Socialist Party MP Lavdrim Krashi also lamented that the legislation for the process of postal voting was rushed, and pointed out some other flaws in the process. For example, each postal voter will be registered to vote in the area where they last lived in Albania. An emigrant in Toronto, Canada, with a registered Albanian address in Kukes County, will vote for deputies in that region. He suggested that having deputies specifically for the diaspora who represent their needs and interests would have been better.

As for the campaign trail abroad, the PS held large, glittering rallies in Italy, Greece, the US and the UK, while Berisha was unable to attend events in the US and UK in person, due to ongoing sanctions for alleged corruption. Smaller parties held a smattering of events but were largely unable to compete for the vote of Albanians abroad, due to the lack of funds to do so.

Despite many pinning their hopes on a better result for smaller parties, it seems their promises were not enough to sway voters. However, an interesting trend throughout the pre-election polls was that which politicians people liked did not necessarily translate into who they voted for. For example, Agron Shehaj, leader of Partia Mundesia, was the second most-liked politician in the country, after Rama, but this did not translate into the number of votes or mandates his party received.

What the observers say

As for the 365 international observers on the ground both during the campaign and on the days of voting and counting, the overall impression of the process was that it was “competitive and professionally managed and the authorities rose to the challenge of organising out-of-country voting for the first time.”

Observers largely praised the inclusion of the diaspora in the vote, calling it an “important milestone in Albania’s democratic history” and a “commendable development” but lamented the need to create more public trust through good governance and reforms. They noted a number of issues, including pressure on voters, the abuse of public resources during the campaign, and a “confrontational and polarising” environment between the two main parties.

Missions from OHIDR, the Council of Europe and European Parliament found that while the legal frameworks formed a basis for democratic elections, there is still a need for comprehensive electoral reform and some shortcomings remain.

Dreams of an EU future

Walking through Tirana on election day, many shops were closed, the streets were empty, and even the city’s usually full cafe shops were largely deserted, save for a few tourists listening to tinny pop music and poring over guidebooks. On the main boulevard of the city, all four lanes were devoid of traffic, while blue and yellow banners proclaiming “I <3 EU” were strung high across the road.

Rama ran his election campaign on the promise of joining the EU, something Albanians have dreamt of since before the end of communism. Before the advent of democracy, as the first protests swept the country in the early 90s, Albanians proclaimed “We want Albania like the rest of Europe” and EU flags can be found hoisted at every institution, as well as being brandished at every kind of protest.

Today, the country is one of the most pro-EU in Europe, with an approval rating of as much as 98%- a figure unheard of among member states.

On a visit to Tirana in April 2025, the EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas said, “2030 is a realistic target for joining the European Union, if we all take the right steps along the way.” This homework focuses on the rule of law, ongoing reforms, and “no shortcuts,” but she was clear that “Albania’s future is in the European Union.”

However, his pledge that a vote for him would mean EU passports and membership by 2030 did not sit well with everyone. In Brussels, several diplomats were rumoured to be unimpressed and considered Rama’s promises a ‘liberty’, considering the decision to admit Albania does not lie in his hands alone.

After closing all the chapters, Albania’s membership will be voted on by all EU members, and a unanimous ‘yes’ is required before keys to Europe’s most sought-after club are granted. This means, despite the positive words from European Commission figures, and the relentless pushing of the EU dream by Rama, the decision is ultimately not in his hands.

Zef Mazi, former EU negotiator for Albania, called the promise “delusional”, days before the election.

In the observer’s report, Michael Gahler, head of the EP delegation, noted that, “Albania’s commitment to a future in the EU is an appreciated and rare element of national consensus. Whichever of the two main parties emerges victorious in this election will prove this.”

But with Rama’s fourth mandate secured, he has just four years to make good on his word. He will also be expected to improve the diaspora voting process, tighten legislation, and tackle the way diaspora votes are handled. Failure to improve the integrity of Albania’s increasingly large diaspora could result in a loss of votes in his favour next time around.

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Caption: Voters use electronic voting machines during the country’s parliamentary elections at a polling station in Tirana, Albania, 11 May 2025. Around 3.9 million eligible voters from both within the country and the diaspora are set to elect 140 members of Parliament, with incumbent prime minister Edi Rama and his ruling Socialist Party (SP) seeking a fourth term. [EPA-EFE/MALTON DIBRA]