Elections

On 11 May 2025, Albania will hold parliamentary elections, the first since officially opening EU accession negotiations. While some significant changes mark this election—most notably, diaspora voting and partial candidate list openness—major systemic factors remain unchanged. The Socialist Party (SP), in power since 2013, appears poised for an unprecedented fourth mandate.

The app ‘Aktiv1st’ is tracking the social media activity of Socialist Party members in Albania and ranking them according to engagement levels. This is just the most recent episode in a process of dramatic erosion of the lines that separate party and state

Edi Rama's ruling Socialists once again emerge victorious from the parliamentary elections in Albania. If the opposition returns to parliament after years of boycott, there will be further consolidation of Albanian democracy. However, there are various risks.