Historic 4th Term: How Edi Rama's Socialist Victory Reshapes Albania's Political Landscape

Edi Rama's Historic Fourth Term: A Landslide Victory for Albania's Socialists

In a remarkable display of political longevity, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office following parliamentary elections held on May 11, 2025. The results, which became clear by May 13, showed a decisive victory for his Socialist Party, which garnered approximately 52% of the votes compared to 34% for the opposition Democratic Party led by his longtime rival Sali Berisha.

With nearly all votes counted (excluding some remaining diaspora ballots), the Socialist Party has won around 82-83 seats in the 140-seat Parliament, a significant improvement from their previous 74 seats in the 2021 elections. This comfortable majority allows Rama to govern without coalition partners and strengthens his position as Albania's longest-serving democratic leader since the fall of communism.

The victory celebration took place on May 14 in Tirana's main Skanderbeg Square, where thousands of supporters waving Albanian and EU flags gathered in front of a poster prepared for the upcoming European Political Community summit. During this rally, Rama expressed gratitude to his supporters and reaffirmed his commitment to leading Albania into the European Union by 2030.

The Road to EU Membership: Rama's Bold Promise

Central to Rama's campaign was his ambitious pledge to secure Albania's full membership in the European Union by 2030, with accession negotiations concluding by 2027. This timeline, while popular among voters who overwhelmingly support EU integration, has been met with skepticism by both opposition parties and some EU officials.

Albania has been making steady progress on its European path since receiving candidate status in 2014, but the road to membership remains challenging. During his victory speech, Rama acknowledged this reality, stating: Most Albanians, within and outside Albania, think Albania is on the right path. Albania can only achieve EU membership by 2030 through our collective effort, led by me and the Socialist Party.

The promise of EU membership resonated strongly with Albanian voters, who see European integration as a top national priority. Rama's government has positioned this goal as the cornerstone of its agenda for the next four years, emphasizing economic reforms, judicial improvements, and anti-corruption measures as necessary steps toward EU accession.

However, Brussels has consistently emphasized that reforms must precede timelines, pointing to persistent issues around media freedom, judicial independence, and corruption that still need addressing before membership can be realized.

Economic Performance: A Key Factor in Rama's Success

One of the most significant factors contributing to Rama's electoral success has been Albania's strong economic performance under his leadership. During campaign rallies, Rama frequently highlighted economic achievements since taking office in 2013.

According to data cited during his campaign, Albania's GDP has grown by 109.6% since 2013, outpacing regional peers. The economy has expanded from under €10 billion when Rama took office to approximately €25 billion today, with projections to reach €35 billion by 2030. Unemployment has reportedly fallen from 18% to 8.8% during his tenure, while exports have tripled.

The World Bank has acknowledged Albania's solid economic growth, noting annual increases of more than 4% for the period 2022-2024. This growth has been driven primarily by trade with the EU and a tourism boom that has outperformed other Balkan countries.

Looking ahead, Rama has promised further economic improvements, including raising the minimum wage to €650 by the end of his next term while maintaining tax exemptions for small businesses until 2029. These economic pledges, combined with his government's track record of growth, appear to have convinced many voters to support continuity rather than change.

Opposition Claims and Electoral Concerns

Despite the clear margin of victory, the election was not without controversy. Opposition leader Sali Berisha, an 80-year-old veteran of Albanian politics who previously served as both president and prime minister, has refused to accept the results, alleging widespread electoral irregularities.

On May 13, Berisha accused the Socialists of pressure, fraud, and vote-buying, declaring it impossible to reconcile with such elections. He called for a protest on May 16, coinciding with the European Political Community Summit being held in Tirana, describing Rama as a tyrant and narco-dictator who manipulated the vote.

These allegations were partially supported by international observers. A joint observation mission from various European organizations, including the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, noted that while the elections were competitive and professionally managed, they were marked by widespread misuse of public resources and institutional power by the ruling party.

The observers expressed concern about numerous reports of pressure on public employees and other voters, as well as cases of intimidation. They also highlighted that the campaign focused more on hostile and personal attacks between the leaders of the two main parties rather than substantive policy debates, deepening public distrust in politics.

Electoral Reforms and Diaspora Voting

The 2025 elections introduced significant changes to Albania's electoral system, most notably allowing diaspora voting for the first time. This change, implemented through amendments to the electoral code approved in July 2024, allowed Albanians living abroad to participate in the electoral process through a special application called PER.

The registration period for diaspora voters ran from January 11 to March 11, with emigrants required to provide a valid passport and proof of residential address. Once registered, these voters were removed from the domestic voter list and placed on a separate overseas voter list finalized by May 11.

This new system became a point of contention during the vote counting, with the opposition requesting the disregard of approximately 53,000 ballots sent from the diaspora in neighboring Greece, alleging manipulation. The postal company countered by stating it had confirmation signatures from all voters in Greece.

Other electoral reforms included changes to candidate lists, with one-third designated as closed and subject to party leader discretion, exempting these positions from preferential voting. The amendments also stipulated that one out of every three candidates elected from the open list must be a woman, reflecting a commitment to enhancing gender representation.

Challenges Ahead: Governance, Corruption, and Democratic Institutions

As Rama begins his fourth term, he faces significant challenges that could determine whether his ambitious EU timeline can be realized. Chief among these is addressing persistent concerns about corruption, which international observers continue to highlight as a major obstacle to Albania's European integration.

The authority working to combat corruption and organized crime (SPAK) played a positive role in investigating electoral corruption during the campaign, with improved coordination between SPAK, the election administration, and the General Prosecutor's Office enhancing information sharing on election-related crimes. However, much more progress is needed in this area.

There are also growing concerns about the concentration of power under Rama's leadership. With each successive electoral victory, his Socialist Party has strengthened its grip on Albanian institutions. Critics worry that this dominance could weaken democratic checks and balances, potentially hampering the very reforms needed for EU accession.

The international observation mission noted that the legal framework for elections in Albania forms an adequate basis for democratic elections, but shortcomings and ambiguities created uncertainty and limited accountability. Many longstanding recommendations by international observers remain unaddressed, raising concerns about a lack of political will for comprehensive electoral reform.

Looking Forward: Albania's Path in a Fourth Rama Term

As Edi Rama embarks on his historic fourth term as Prime Minister, Albania stands at a crossroads. The strong mandate given to his Socialist Party provides an opportunity to accelerate reforms needed for EU integration, but also raises questions about the health of the country's democratic institutions after 12 years under the same leadership.

The coming years will reveal whether Rama can translate his electoral success into meaningful progress toward EU membership. His government's ability to address corruption, strengthen judicial independence, and foster media freedom will be closely watched by Brussels as indicators of Albania's readiness to join the European family.

For ordinary Albanians, economic concerns remain paramount. While macroeconomic indicators have improved under Rama's leadership, challenges persist in terms of income inequality, regional development disparities, and creating high-quality employment opportunities, especially for young people.

The opposition's refusal to accept election results and planned protests suggest that political polarization will continue to characterize Albanian politics. This division could complicate governance and reform efforts if it deepens further.

As Albania prepares to host European leaders for the European Political Community summit on May 16, just days after Rama's victory celebration, the country's European aspirations will be in the spotlight. The summit provides an opportunity for Rama to showcase Albania's progress and commitment to European values, even as domestic challenges persist.

Whether Albania can indeed achieve EU membership by 2030 remains uncertain, but what is clear is that Edi Rama will be the leader guiding the country through this critical phase of its European journey, having secured a historic fourth mandate from the Albanian people.