2021 Albanian parliamentary election explained

Country:Albania
Previous Election:2017
Next Election:Next
Seats For Election:140 seats in the Parliament of Albania
Majority Seats:71
Turnout:46.29%
Election Date:25 April 2021
Leader1:Edi Rama
Party1:Socialist Party of Albania
Last Election1:74
Seats1:74
Percentage1:48.67
Leader2:Lulzim Basha
Party2:PD–AN
Last Election2:46
Seats2:59
Percentage2:39.43
Leader3:Monika Kryemadhi
Party3:Socialist Movement for Integration
Last Election3:19
Seats3:4
Percentage3:6.81
Leader5:Tom Doshi
Party5:Social Democratic Party of Albania
Last Election5:1
Seats5:3
Percentage5:2.25
Map:Zgjedhjet e përgjithshme 2021 (harta qarqeve).svg
Prime Minister
Before Election:Edi Rama
Before Party:Socialist Party of Albania
After Election:Edi Rama
After Party:Socialist Party of Albania

Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 25 April 2021.[1] It took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

In the previous parliamentary elections in 2017,[2] the Socialist Party won a majority with 74 of the 140 seats. In second place was the Democratic Party with 43 seats.

Electoral system

The 140 members of Parliament were elected in twelve multi-member constituencies based on the twelve counties by open list using proportional representation (using a 1% national electoral threshold) with seats allocated using the d'Hondt method.[3] [4] Significant changes to the electoral system were made a year before the 2021 elections by the Albanian parliament by amending several articles of the constitution. The ruling Socialist Party was accused by the united opposition, which two years earlier had left parliament and had not participated in the 2019 local elections, of violating the electoral law agreement they had previously agreed on.[5] The majority defended itself by saying that the changes were made as a request of public opinion for the opening of the lists of deputies so that each voter chooses his preference. And that with the new system, Albania introduces a system well known and implemented by some European countries, such as Croatia, Slovenia, the Netherlands or Estonia, and moving away from the old system that was unique in its kind and that is not applied elsewhere - even though a number of European countries use closed-list proportional representation.[6]

Demographic changes led to some changes in the number of seats for some constituencies; Tirana gained two seats, while Dibër and Gjirokastër both lost a seat.[7]

CountyRegistered voters 2021Seats
1Berat184,6127
2Dibër132,8585
3Durrës359,83214
4Elbasan349,14414
5Fier405,95516
6Gjirokastër124,2244
7Korçë286,16611
8Kukës83,8083
9Lezhë168,9757
10Shkodër273,80111
11Tirana911,57336
12Vlorë319,74412
align=left colspan=4Source: KQZ.gov.al (List of voters)

Contesting parties

See main article: List of political parties in Albania. A total of 46 political parties, of which 5 parties are running for the first time, are registered with the Central Election Commission.[8] In the elections of April 25, 2021, voters will have the opportunity to choose between 12 electoral subjects, of which 3 are coalitions, while in some constituencies five independent candidates also participate.[9] The largest opposition party, the PD, formed the Partia Demokratike – Aleanca për Ndryshim (PD-AN) coalition by joining forces with twelve smaller parties. The LSI, also in opposition, formed a coalition of its own called Shqipëria – Shtëpia Fituese (ShQF). While the ruling party PS, decided to run in the elections alone but with the inclusion of some candidates of other allied parties.

NameAbbr.IdeologyPolitical positionLeader
Social Democratic PartyPSDSocial democracyCentre-leftTom Doshi
bgcolor=National Front PartyPBKAlbanian nationalismFar-rightAdriatik Alimadhi
Albanian Democratic Movement PartyPLDSHLiberal conservatismCentre-rightMyslim Murrizi
Democratic ConvictionBDLiberal conservatismCentre-rightAstrit Patozi
People's Union Alliance CoalitionABEOKLiberal conservatismKujtim Gjuzi
Socialist Movement for IntegrationLSISocial democracyCentre-leftMonika Kryemadhi
Nisma ThurjeNTHEndrit Shabani
New Movement PartyLREArian Galdini
Democratic Party – Alliance for ChangePD–ANLiberal conservatismCentre-rightLulzim Basha
New Democracy Alliance PartyADREdmond Stojku
Movement for ChangeLNLiberal conservatismCentre-rightJozefina Topalli
Socialist Party of AlbaniaPSSocial democracyCentre-left to left-wingEdi Rama

Also, five independent candidates are participating in the elections as Elton Debreshi in Dibër County, Pal Shkambi in Shkodër County and three who are supported by the Vetëvendosje as Boiken Abazi in Tirana County, Iljaz Shehu in Lezhë County and Kreshnik Merxhani in Gjirokastër County.[9]

Opinion polls

Nationwide

PollsterDateSamplePSPDLSIPDIUPSDOther partiesLead
Piepoli + Report TV24–27 November 2020 500 53 – 59% 30 – 34% 2 – 4% 1 – 3% 5 – 7% +20%
MRB + Euronews Albania22 December 2020 – 13 January 20211.600 41.8% 28.2% 10.3% 1.5% 2.1% 13.6%
NOTO Sondaggi + Ora News10 January – 19 January 2.000 42 – 46% 33 – 37% 9 – 13% 1 – 3% 6 – 10% +5%
Flame Tree Advisors + Syri TV8 January – 22 January 1.000 38.2% 33.6% 10.7% 2.5% 2.8% 4.6%
Piepoli + Report TV19 January – 22 January 900 48 – 52% 31 – 35% 4 – 8% 2 – 4% 1 – 9% +13%
MRB + Euronews Albania25 January – 12 February 1.600 39.9% 30.6% 9.1% 1.6% 1.8% 9.3%
IPSOS + Top Channel10 February – 16 February 1.527 49.5% 39.3% 5.1% 0.2% 0.8% 5% 12.2%
Piepoli + Report TV18 February 800 47 – 51% 33 – 37% 4 – 8% 2 – 4% 2 – 12% +10%
Flame Tree Advisors + Syri TV1 February – 20 February 1.000 38.5% – 40.1% 33.9% – 36.8% 8.9% – 9.2% 2.2% – 2.5% 1.5% – 4.6% +1.7%
NOTO Sondaggi + Ora News23 February 2.000 41 – 45% 34 – 38% 8 – 12% 1 – 3% 7 – 11% +3%
GeoCartography + T7&GE24 February – 8 March 3.778 45.25% 42.55% 8.8% 3.54% 2.7%
MRB + Euronews Albania25 February – 9 March 1.600 41.3% 30.8% 7.6% 1.3% 1.1% 10.5%
IPSOS + Top Channel3 March – 9 March 1.519 48.7% 40.6% 4.6% 0.9% 5.1% 8.1%
Piepoli + Report TV17 March 1000 47 – 51% 37 – 41% 4 – 8% 0 – 2% 1 – 10% +6%
Flame Tree Advisors + Syri TV12 March – 18 March 1.000 38.9% 38.5% 9.2% 1.4% 0.4%
NOTO Sondaggi + Ora News12 March – 22 March 2.000 44.5 – 48.5% 41 – 45% 6 – 10% 0 – 2% 0 – 2% +1%
Piepoli + Report TV23 March – 28 March 1000 47 – 51% 38 – 42% 4 – 8% 0 – 2% 0 – 8% +5%
MRB + Euronews Albania17 March – 31 March 2.500 43% 35.4% 5.2% 3.8% 7.6%
IPSOS + Top Channel29 March – 31 March 1.513 48.4% 39.3% 5% 1.7% 5.5% 9.1%
NOTO Sondaggi + Ora News6 April 2.000 44 – 48% 42 – 46% 6 – 10% 0 – 1% 0 – 3% +1%
Smith Research & Consulting27 March – 9 April 1.000 42.5% 44.7% 11.3% 1.5% 2.2%
MRB + Euronews Albania1 April – 15 April 2.700 43% 36.8% 5.8% 3% 6.2%
NOTO Sondaggi + Ora News16 April – 19 April 2.000 43.5 – 47.5% 42.5 – 46.5% 4 – 7.5% 0 – 2% 1 – 5% +1%
Flame Tree Advisors + Syri TV 19 April 1.000 42.1% 47.1% 9.4% 1.3% 5%
IPSOS + Top Channel18 April – 20 April 1.029 48.1% 43.6% 3.6% 0.8% 3.4% 4.5%
Smith Research & Consulting 23 April 1.000 42.4% 46.1% 10.4% 1.1% 3,7%

Results

The first exit-poll, from Euronews, suggested the victory of the Socialist Party tightly, projecting the 46% of the votes to Rama's candidacy, while the Democratic Party the 42%.[10] On 27 April, Rama claimed "the most beautiful victory" and thanking "for trusting me to lead a third term".[10]

On 28 April, 10 members of the Democratic Party's leadership called for Lulzim Basha's resignation as leader, alleging "The loss of the elections of 25 April 2021 by the Democratic Party has its responsibilities and first of all the chairman Lulzim Basha! He, among other things, has extinguished the democratic dream of hundreds of thousands of Albanians, losing two pairs of general elections, delivering the central government, the local government and the opposition in the hands of Edi Rama. Therefore, we demand the immediate and irrevocable resignation of the chairman of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, the secretary general and the vice-chairmen."[11] That same day, the candidate for the Social Movement for Integration Monika Kryemadhi congratulated "the oligarchs and the gangs, [because they are] the real winners" and apologized for the wrong electoral strategy, while accusing that vote buying took place in Durrës, Korçë and Berat.[12]

MPs

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zgjedhjet parlamentare në Shqipëri do të mbahen më 25 prill 2021. trt.net.tr. Turkish. 7 September 2020. 8 November 2020. 22 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201022180213/https://www.trt.net.tr/shqip/ballkani/2020/09/07/zgjedhjet-parlamentare-ne-shqiperi-do-te-mbahen-me-25-prill-2021-1486021. live.
  2. Web site: Presidenti Nishani e dekreton: 25 qershori data e zgjedhjeve parlamentare. gsh.al. Albanian. 21 May 2017. 9 November 2020. 13 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201113214936/http://www.gsh.al/2017/05/21/zyrtare-presidenti-nishani-e-dekreton-25-qershori-data-e-zgjedhjeve-parlamentare/. live.
  3. Web site: Instituti i Studimeve Politike . 2020. Broshurë Informative: mbi proceset zgjedhore Parlamentare dhe Lokale në Shqipëri, mbi partitë politike, legjislacionin, rekomandimet e OSBE/ODIHR (1991-2020).. Information Booklet on Parliamentary and Local Electoral Processes in Albania, on Political Parties, Legislation, OSCE / ODIHR Recommendations (1991-2020) . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201235940/http://isp.com.al/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ISP-%E2%80%93-Broshure-informative-mbi-zgjedhjet-ne-Shqiperi-1991-2020.pdf. 1 February 2021 . sq. PDF.
  4. Web site: 2020-10-05. Explaining Albania: Electoral Code Changes Approved in Parliament, Here's What will Happen. 2021-01-22. Exit - Explaining Albania. en-US. 1 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201134423/https://exit.al/en/2020/10/05/electoral-code-changes-approved-in-parliament-heres-what-will-happen/. live.
  5. Web site: 2020-07-30. Albanian Opposition Vows Not to Recognize Unilateral Changes Made to Constitution. 2021-01-22. Exit - Explaining Albania. en-US. 21 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021161246/https://exit.al/en/2020/07/30/albanian-opposition-vows-not-to-recognize-unilateral-changes-made-to-constitution/. live.
  6. Web site: 2020-10-04. Kodi Zgjedhor, Rama: Nesër votohet në Parlament, PS-ja ka qenë shërbëtore e përulur. 2021-01-22. Gazeta Mapo. en-US. 14 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210314172943/https://gazetamapo.al/kodi-zgjedhor-rama-neser-votohet-ne-parlament-ps-ja-ka-qene-sherbetore-e-perulur/. live.
  7. http://shqiptarja.com/m/politike/harta-e-re-elektorale-nj--mandat-m--pak-kuk-sit-kor--s-e-beratit-389065.html Harta e re elektorale, një mandat më pak Kukësit, Korçës e Beratit
  8. Web site: May 2021. Regjistri i partive politike të regjistruara në KQZ për Zgjedhjet për Kuvend të datës 25 Prill 2021. live. Central Election Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418230330/http://kqz.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Regjistri-parti-koalicione-2021.pdf . 18 April 2021 .
  9. Web site: 2021-03-18. 25 Prilli, 12 subjekte politike dhe 5 kandidatë të pavarur janë pjesë e garës. 2021-04-21. Gazeta Koha Jone. en-US.
  10. 25 April 2021. Exit polls: Tight race in Albania's parliamentary vote. Association Press. Llazar. Semini.
  11. 28 April 2021. 10 anëtarë të kryesisë i kërkojnë Bashës dorëheqjen. Televizioni Klan.
  12. 28 April 2021. Kryemadhi i kërkon falje Metës: Djegia e mandateve, strategji e gabuar për zgjedhjet. Televizioni Klan.