Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is set to secure a record fourth term in office after his Socialist Party won a clear majority in the May 11 general election, according to near-final results published on May 13.

With 98% of votes counted, the ruling party had secured 52% of the vote, well ahead of the opposition Democratic Party on 34%, figures from the Central Election Commission (CEC) showed. 

This translates to 82 seats in Albania’s 140-member parliament for the Socialists, while the centre-right Democratic Party is expected to take 51 seats. Three smaller parties will divide the remaining seven seats.

If confirmed, the result marks an increase from the Socialists’ 49% share of the vote in the 2021 election and gives Rama a renewed parliamentary majority.

"I thank you generally for your indescribable faith," wrote Rama on Facebook early on May 14.

However, the opposition has alleged electoral irregularities and demanded that the CEC discount more than 50,000 ballots cast by Albanians living in neighbouring Greece, the first time diaspora voters were allowed to vote by post.

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha, a former president and prime minister, rejected the outcome and called on supporters to protest on May 16, when European leaders are scheduled to meet in Tirana for a regional summit. “The protest of the 16th is a protest on behalf of a people asking to vote free!” Berisha wrote on Facebook. 

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said the election was competitive and professionally run, but criticised the ruling party’s use of public resources and the polarised atmosphere. “The campaign was marred by unbalanced media coverage, divisive rhetoric and non-transparent financing,” observers said.

The European Union also raised concerns. “The elections were highly polarised and did not offer a level playing field,” said European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi in a joint statement. They called for investigations into allegations of electoral misconduct.