Elections in Albania

Regular elections in Albania are mandated by the Constitution and legislation enacted by Parliament. The Parliament (Kuvendi) has 140 members elected for four-year terms.^[1] The electoral system is open list proportional representation. There are 12 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the country's 12 administrative regions. Within any constituency, parties must meet a threshold of 3 percent of votes, and pre-election coalitions must meet a threshold of 5 percent of votes.^[2][3][4]

This electoral system replaced a mixed-member system in November 2008.^[5] Under the old system, 100 members were elected directly in single member constituencies with approximately equal numbers of voters. 40 were elected from multi-name lists of parties or party coalitions according to their ranking. The total number of deputies of a party or a party coalition was to be, to the closest possible extent, proportional to the valid votes won by that party or coalition on the national scale in the first round of elections. Parties that received less than 2.5% and coalitions that received less than 4% of the valid votes on the national scale in the first round of elections did not benefit from the respective multi-name list.

The change was criticised by the smaller parties, but supported by the two main parties. It was considered an important step towards Albania's European integration. Other changes included limiting the prosecutor general's term to five years, forcing an early election in case of a no-confidence vote and reducing the majority required to elect the president from three-fifths to half the MPs.^[6]

The president is elected by parliament.

Albania has a multi-party system, with two or three strong parties and several other parties that are electorally successful.

History

On 31 March 1991, the first pluralist elections were held in the country.^[7] The elections were conducted with a clean majority system in 250 constituencies.^[8] 98.2% of voters took part in the voting. The participating parties registered a total of 1,074 candidates while 17 of the candidates were independent. The final election results declared the Labor Party the winner with 56.17% of the vote. The Democratic Party won 38.71% of the vote, the Republican Party 1.77%, the Omonia Organization 0.73%, the Agrarian Party 0.07% and the Veterans Committee 0.28%. With a 250-seat parliament, the results were translated into 169 deputies for the Labor Party, the Democratic Party 75 deputies, Omonia 5 deputies and the Veterans Committee 1 deputy. The Democratic Party achieved high results and received a larger number of deputies compared to the Labor Party in the main cities such as: Durrës (13 deputies out of 19 in total), Shkodër (16 out of 19 in total), Tirana (19 out of 29). Whereas in Krujë and Vlorë the number of deputies of the two major parties was equal.^[8] This was considered a great victory for the DP given that the communist party that had ruled the country for about 50 years still continued to have strong control over the population, especially in those living in rural areas and still doubting that the dictatorship would fall.^[9]

On 8 May 2000, the Albanian Parliament approved the Electoral Code only with the votes of the Socialists, which had an overwhelming majority in the assembly that emerged from the 1997 elections.^[10] The Democratic Party rejected the Electoral Code in its entirety due to the composition of the Central Election Commission (KQZ or CEC) of 6 members. They boycotted his approval in parliament even though he had attended most of the roundtables organized for the debate over the Electoral Code. According to the new Electoral Code, voting in Albania would be based on a mixed, majority-proportional electoral system. From where 100 deputies, in the 140-seat parliament, would be elected by majority vote from single-member constituencies, while 40 seats were filled by national multi-member lists of political parties in order to achieve a proportional approach between nationally received votes and deputies which represented a political party in the assembly. To win a proportional mandate, political parties had to cross the 2.5% electoral threshold, while coalitions had to cross the 4% threshold.^[11]

Presidential elections

See also: President of Albania

The presidential elections in Albania are held every five years, with the president being elected by the parliament of the nation. This electoral process is regulated in the constitutional framework, particularly articulated in the fourth part, encompassing articles 86 to 94 of the constitution of the nation. As the head of state, the president representes the unity of the Albanian people and ensures the adherence to and functioning of the constitutional order.

Latest election

Main article: 2022 Albanian presidential election

Results of the 2022 Albanian presidential election^[12]

Candidate		Party[a]		First round		Second round		Third round		Fourth round
				Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
	Bajram Begaj	Independent	No candidates							78	95.12
	Against									4	4.88
Required majority			84 votes							71 votes
Valid votes			—							82	98.8
Abstentions										1	1.2
Total										83	100
Absents			—							57	40.71
Registered voters										140	59.29

Previous election

Election	Candidates	Winning candidate		Party
		1925	1			Ahmet Zogu	Progressive Party
1991	1		Ramiz Alia	Party of Labor
1992	1		Sali Berisha	Democratic Party
2002	1		Alfred Moisiu	Independent
2007	3		Bamir Topi	Democratic Party
2012	7		Bujar Nishani
2017	1		Ilir Meta	LSI
2022	1		Bajram Begaj	Independent

Parliamentary elections

See also: Prime Minister of Albania and Council of Ministers (Albania)

Latest election

See also: 2021 Albanian parliamentary election

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Socialist Party of Albania	768,134	48.67	74	0
	Democratic Party – Alliance for Change	622,187	39.43	59	+13
	Socialist Movement for Integration	107,538	6.81	4	–15
	Social Democratic Party of Albania	35,475	2.25	3	+2
	Nisma Thurje	10,217	0.65	0	New
	Democratic Conviction	8,239	0.52	0	New
	Movement for Change	7,054	0.45	0	New
	Albanian Democratic Movement Party	4,705	0.30	0	New
	New Movement Party	3,767	0.24	0	New
	New Democracy Alliance Party	3,232	0.20	0	New
	Albanian National Front Party	1,946	0.12	0	New
	People's Union Alliance Coalition	1,376	0.09	0	New
	Independents	4,247	0.27	0	New
Total		1,578,117	100.00	140	0
Valid votes		1,578,117	95.00
Invalid/blank votes		83,059	5.00
Total votes		1,661,176	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		3,588,869	46.29
Source: KQZ

By county

County	PS	PD-AN	LSI	PSD	Total seats
Berat	5	2	0	0	7
Dibër	2	3	0	0	5
Durrës	8	6	0	0	14
Elbasan	8	6	0	0	14
Fier	9	6	1	0	16
Gjirokastër	3	1	0	0	4
Korçë	6	5	0	0	11
Kukës	1	2	0	0	3
Lezhë	3	4	0	0	7
Shkodër	3	5	1	2	11
Tirana	18	15	2	1	36
Vlorë	8	4	0	0	12
Total	74	59	4	3	140

List of elections

See also: List of political parties in Albania

Parliamentary elections

This is a list of parliamentary elections in Albania from the year 1921 till present day. Direct presidential elections have not been held.^[14][15]

No.	Legislature	Date	Candidates	Registered voters	Turnout %
1	National Council	5 April 1921	65
2	Constitutional Assembly	27 December 1923	95
3	Deputies Chamber - Senate	17 May 1925	49/16
4	Constituent Assembly/Parliament	17 August 1928	49
5	Parliament	11 November 1932	54
6	Parliament	31 January 1937	57
7	National Assembly/Parliament	1 October 1943	193
8	Constitutional Assembly/People's Assembly	2 December 1945	101	603,566	89.9
9	People's Assembly	28 May 1950	116	641,241	99.4
10	People's Assembly	30 May 1954	129	702,476	99.9
11	People's Assembly	1 June 1958	180	788,250	100
12	People's Assembly	3 June 1962	210	889,875	100
13	People's Assembly	10 July 1966	234	978,161	100
14	People's Assembly	20 September 1970	261	1,097,123	100
15	People's Assembly	6 October 1974	238	1,248,530	100
16	People's Assembly	12 November 1978	250	1,436,289	100
17	People's Assembly	14 November 1982	250	1,627,968	100
18	People's Assembly	1 February 1987	250	1,830,653	100
19	Constitutional Assembly	31 March 1991	250	1,977,516	98.6
20	People's Assembly	22 March 1992	130	2,021,169	90.4
21	People's Assembly	26 May 1996	140	2,204,002	89.1
22	Assembly	29 June 1997	150	1,947,235	72.6
23	Assembly	24 June 2001	135	2,499,238	53.6
24	Assembly	3 July 2005	140	2,850,821	48.0
25	Assembly	28 June 2009	140	3,084,946	50.8
26	Assembly	23 June 2013	140	3,271,885	53.5
27	Assembly	25 June 2017	140	3,452,324	46.8
28	Assembly	25 April 2021	140	3,588,869	46.3

Local elections

The candidates column lists only the number of candidates for mayor of the municipality. It does not include candidates for member of the municipal council.^[16]

No.	Date	Candidates	Registered voters	Turnout %
1	26 July 1992	357	1,988,795	70.7
2	20, 27 October 1996	357		58.5
3	1, 15 October 2000	374	2,329,639	50.7
4	12 October 2003	373	2,703,608	45.7
5	18 February 2007	373	2,929,293	46.3
6	8 May 2011	373	3,166,279	50.9
7	21 June 2015	61	3,372,471	47.3
8	30 June 2019	61	812,249	22.9
Partial elections were held on 1 September and 3 November 2013, 25 June 2017.[17]

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system

Notes

1. In accordance with Article 89 of the Albanian constitution, which was enacted in 1998, the president is prohibited from maintaining affiliation with any political party. Consequently, the individual elected to the presidency is required to renounce their party affiliations for the duration of their presidential term.^[13]

References

1. "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA" (PDF). osce.org. p. 12. Archived from the original on 2017-11-02. Retrieved 2021-01-02. The Assembly consists of 140 deputies. One hundred deputies are elected directly in single member electoral zones with an approximately equal number of voters. Forty deputies are elected from multi-name lists of parties or party coalitions according to their ranking
2. "Exit Explains: What the Changes to the Electoral Code Mean for Voters". Exit - Explaining Albania. 2020-10-07. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
3. "IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Albania". Archived from the original on 2021-01-02. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
4. "PART XII ALLOCATION OF SEATS". THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA (English translation by OSCE) (pdf). p. 140. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
5. "Albanian parliament adopts new electoral law — EUbusiness.com - business, legal and economic news and information from the European Union". Archived from the original on 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
6. Ex-communist Albania changes voting system in constitutional shake up - International Herald Tribune
7. "ALBANIA: parliamentary elections Kuvendi Popullor, 1991". archive.ipu.org. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
8. The 1991 Elections in Albania (PDF). Tirana: National Republican Institute for International Affairs. 1991. p. 7.
9. Zogaj, Preç (2014). Fillimet (in Albanian) (2nd ed.). UET Press. p. 349. ISBN 9789928190185.
10. "ALBANIA: parliamentary elections Kuvendi Popullor, 1997". archive.ipu.org. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
11. "Kodi Zgjedhor i Republikës së Shqipërisë, Ligj Nr.8609, datë 08.05.2000". Center of Official Publications. Tirana. 8 May 2000. Archived from the original on 2021-11-14.
12. Semini, Llazar (4 June 2022). "Albania elects top general as the country's new president". Associated Press (AP). Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
13. "Constitution of the Republic of Albania". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 22 November 1998. p. 18. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
14. "A e dini se këto janë zgjedhjet e 27 parlamentare në Shqipëri?!". Gazeta Express. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
15. Political Parties of Eastern Europe
16. Historia e zgjedhjeve lokale në Shqipëri
17. "Më 25 qershor, zgjedhjet parlamentare dhe ato lokale në Kavajë".

Sources

• The 1991 Elections in Albania (PDF). National Republican Institute for International Affairs (NRIIA). 1991. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
• "The Elections in Albania March-April 1991" (PDF). Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). April 1991. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
• "Constitution of the Republic of Albania". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 22 November 1998. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
• Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9-780-8-1087-3803. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
• "Transitional Justice in Albania". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 30 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
• Luarasi, Aleks (May 1997). "Legal and Institutional Reform in Albania after the Democratic Revolution (1991 – 1997)" (PDF). North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.