Flash News

The tech billionaires who attended Donald Trump's inauguration

SPAK, still looking for money from Tirana's 'ghost incinerator'

Trump declares a "national emergency" in his first minutes in office

Fabrizio Buccin succeeds, new Italian ambassador to Tirana appointed

RENEA's action in Pogradec, the Court determines measures for the 6 arrested

E-TJERA

Elections on May 11, The Washington Post: Rama accused of corruption, opposition in protest since 2013

Politiko 2024-12-05 21:11:46

Elections on May 11, The Washington Post: Rama accused of corruption, opposition

The President of Albania set Thursday, May 11, as the date of the country's next parliamentary elections, and Albanians living in other countries will be able to vote from abroad for the first time,  The Washington Post reports. 
Albania's number of potential voters is 3.6 million, even though the actual population of the small Balkan country is no more than 2.4 million. Immigrants will be able to vote electronically or by mail, under a reform approved this year with the support of both of the country's main political parties.

The elections will appoint 140 representatives with a four-year mandate.

Albania's ever-contentious politics has been marked by constant protests by the opposition, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama's socialists of corruption, manipulation of previous elections and usurpation of the powers of the judiciary.

The Democrats have organized violent protests against the government since 2013, when they left power, and have demanded a caretaker government before the 2025 parliamentary elections, a demand that has been rejected by the ruling Socialists.

In October, Albania began discussions with the European Union on how the country complies with EU positions on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption. Prime Minister Rama hopes that Albania can join the European Union by 2030.

Rama's Socialists are favored to win their fourth term in May elections due to divisions among the opposition, according to local polls.

The United States and the European Union have urged the opposition to resume dialogue with the government, saying violence will not help the country integrate into the 27-nation EU bloc.

Elections in post-communist Albania have always been contested and marred by irregularities, including vote buying and vote counting manipulation.

Latest news