2023 Albanian local elections

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2023 Albanian Local Elections
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  2019 14 May 20232027 

2023 Albanian local election map.png

Local elections were held on 14 May 2023 in Albania. [1] Mayors and municipal council seats were being elected in each of Albania's 61 municipalities.

Contents

Background

The 2019 Albanian local elections were boycotted, leading to the Socialists running uncontested in 31 municipalities. Only Shkodër and Finiq were won by opposition candidates, with all other mayors being candidates of the Socialist Party. [2] According to official figures, turnout in 2019 was 22.97% or 812,249 people. [3] The opposition stated that, according to their calculations, only 534,528 people took part, which means that the turnout was 15.12%. [4] [5] [6] The elections were declared as a "farce" by opposition leader Lulzim Basha at the time. [7]

Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta officially met on 26 October 2022 to plan for the upcoming elections. [8] [9] Both Meta and Berisha planned to have primaries in order to select joint candidates for each municipality, while the Socialist Party planned to run alone without any electoral alliance. [10] However, since the Democratic Party was split between Enkelejd Alibeaj and Sali Berisha, it was uncertain who would carry the name of the party on the ballot. [11] Belind Këlliçi announced he would be challenging Erion Veliaj in Tirana as Berisha's candidate, [12] while Alibeaj did not announce a candidate in Tirana.

On 25 January 2023, Berisha's agreement with Vangjel Dule was revealed. According to the agreement, the PBDNJ would run their candidates in Finiq, Dropull and Himarë. [13] By the end of January, it was still not clear whether the PS would run alone or with a coalition. [14] Edi Rama stated that his party had selected a candidate for every region besides Vlorë and Durrës. [15]

Ilirjan Celibashi, the head of the Central Election Commission, stated that neither Enkelejd Alibeaj nor Sali Berisha were allowed to register their candidates as the Democratic party of Albania before the deadline was on 7 March, meaning that the PD would not be allowed to run in the upcoming local elections. [16]

In February 2023, controversy formed around the alleged connections between prime minister Edi Rama and Charles McGonigal, who was believed to be connected with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and was also separately indicted for allegedly accepting payments from former Albanian intelligence agent Agron Neza. [17] [18] [19] [20]

On 3 March 2023, the Democratic Party of Albania was given to Enkelejd Alibeaj. [21] [22] Originally, the Tirana Courts had originally accepted Sali Berisha's appeal. [23] However, on 11 March 2023, Alibeaj was not allowed to register the Democratic Party with the CEC, allegedly for lack of proper documentation. In fact, it appeared that Lulzim Basha was still the leader of the party, even though Basha had declared his resignation in March 2022. However, Basha had never finalized his resignation in any written source. Alibeaj announced he would appeal against the decision of the CEC. [24]

Berisha's candidates were not allowed to register as the Democratic Party, but instead under the list of Ilir Meta's party. On 15 March 2023, Berisha and Meta announced that their coalition would be called Bashkë Fitojmë ("Together we win"). It would consist of the PBDNJ, the Freedom Party of Albania, Demochristian Party, and the majority of the PD. [25] Several Alibeaj's candidates would ultimately resign or endorse Berisha's candidates. [26] [27] [28] [29]

By-elections of March 2022

After the results of the 2019 elections, by-elections were announced on March 6, 2022, as at the time there was no elected mayor in Vorë, Dibër, Shkodër, Lushnjë, Rrogozhine and Durrës. Several candidates that had been elected in June 2019 had not taken office either due to their death, or they had been arrested on corruption charges. [30] [31]

Between the 2019 elections and the March 2022 by-elections, Sali Berisha had been expelled from the PD by the party's leadership. However, he had previously personally conducted a party congress in which participants had deposed the party leadership of Lulzim Basha. [32] [33]

In the partial elections of the aforementioned six municipalities, a candidate from the Democratic Party and a Berisha candidate ran alongside a candidate from the Socialist Party. The Berisha loyalist candidates ran under the coalition name Shtëpia e Lirisë ("House of Freedom"). [34] [35] In all communities, House of Freedom candidates received significantly more votes than the official PD representatives. Berisha's candidate managed to win in Shkodër, while the rest of the municipalities were won by the Socialist Party. [36]

In the three voting stations of Bruçaj, Ndrejaj and Palaj, small villages in the northern mountains of Albania, elections were not held due to bad weather from heavy snowfall causing power cuts. [37]

Results from the partial election [38]
DistrictsTurnoutWinnerPolitical partyPSPDSHeL
Vorë 41.04%Blerim SheraSocialist Party69.39%6.29%24.33%
Dibër 41.99%Rahim SpahiuSocialist Party60.82%19.28%19.46%
Lushnjë 35.88%Eriselda SefaSocialist Party58.80%10.43%30.77%
Shkodër 28.05% Bardh Spahia House of Freedom39.51%16.82%43.67%
Durrës 26.57%Emiriano SakoSocialist Party58.47%11.85%29.68%
Rrogozhinë 28.45%Edison MemollaSocialist Party60.73%21.96%17.31%

Parties and coalitions

NumberPartyAcronymChairmanCoalition
1 Together We Win Coalition [a] BF Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta Bashkë Fitojmë
2 Socialist Party of Albania PS Edi Rama Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
3 Environmentalist Agrarian Party PAAAgron Duka
4 Republican Party of Albania PRSH Fatmir Mediu
5 Legality Movement Party PLLShpetim Axhami
6 Social Democracy Party of Albania PDS Paskal Milo
7Right Liberal Alliance [b] ALDArtur RoshiAleanca Liberale e Djathë
8 Social Democratic Party of Albania PSD Tom Doshi
9 Democratic Party of Albania PD Enkelejd Alibeaj
10 Movement for National Development LZHKDashamir Shehi
11 New Democratic Spirit FRDSali Shehu
12 Party for Justice, Integration and Unity PDIU Shpëtim Idrizi
13Party of Europeanisation and Integration of AlbaniaPEISHRivelino Çuno
14 Democratic Alliance ADEduard Abazi
15 Democratic Conviction BD Astrit Patozi
16Party for the Protection of the Rights of Immigrants of AlbaniaPMDEYmer Kurti
17National Arbnore AllianceAAKGjet Ndoj
18 National Front Party PBKAdriatik Alimadhi
19Party Alliance for Democracy and SolidarityADSGaqo Apostoli
20Albanian Labor MovementPLPSHGenci Sakaj
21Left FrontFMMarko Dajti
22Party of Albanian National UnityPUKIdajet Beqiri
23 Green Party of Albania PGJEdlir Petanaj
24Conservative PartyKONSBashkim Murati
25New Movement PartyLREArian Galdini
26 Alliance for Equality and European Justice ABDEValentino Mustaka
27National Conservative Party of AlbaniaPKKAKujtim Gjuzi
28Party Defending the Rights of Albanian WorkersPMDPSHKadri Isufaj
29 Macedonian Alliance for European Integration AMIEVasil SterjovskiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
30Albanian Emigration PartyPEShKostaq Papa
31Albanian Democratic Reforms PartyPRDShKrenar Rryci
32 Communist Party of Albania PKSHQemal Cicollari
33Albanian Time PartyPOSHZef Shtjefni
34 Christian Democratic Party of Albania PKDDhimiter Muslia
35 Hashtag Initiative NTH Endrit Shabani
36 Together Movement BASHKË Arlind Qori
37Greek Ethnic Minority for the FutureMEGAKristo Kiço
38Christian Democratic Alliance of AlbaniaADK Zef Bushati
39Albanian Demochristian LeagueLDKMhil Gecaj
40Albanian Future PartyPASHEmin Subashi

Polls

Tirana

PollsterDate PS BF PD LBDont knowAbstentionLead
EuroNews Albania 8 May 202344.918.66.41.120.27.126.3
EuroNews Albania 14 April 202342.128.71.40.820.26.613.4
EuroNews Albania 17 March 202345.823.8--21.98.522
EuroNews Albania February 202345.621--24.4924.6

Mayoral results

Every mayor participated, including prior ones from 2022. The results are as follows: [39]

CountyCityMayorPartyAlliance
Berat Berat Ervin Demo Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Kuçova Kreshnik Hajdari Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Poliçan Adriatik Zotkaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Skrapar Adriatik Mema Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Dimal Juliana Memaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Dibër Bulqizë Festime Mjeshtri Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Dibër Rrahim Spahiu Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Klos Valbona Kola Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Mat Agron Malaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Durrës Durrës Emiriana Sako Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Krujë Artur Bushi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Shijak Elton Arbana Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Elbasan Belsh Arif Tafani Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Cërrik Andis Salla Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Elbasan Gledian Llatja Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Gramsh Besion Ajazi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Librazhd Mariglen Disha Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Peqin Bukurosh Maçi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Përrenjas Nuri Belba Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Fier Divjakë Josif Gorrea Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Fier Armando Subashi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Lushnjë Eriselda Sefa Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Mallakastër Qerim Ismailaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Patos Fatjon Duro Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Roskovec Majlinda Bufi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Gjirokastër Dropull Dhimitraq Toli Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Gjirokastër Flamur Golemi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Këlcyra Kelmet Ndoni Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Libohovë Leonard Hide Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Memaliaj Albert Malaj Together We Win Bashkë Fitojmë
Përmet Alma Hoxha Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Tepelena Termet Peçi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Korçë Devoll Eduard Duro Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Kolonja Erion Isaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Korça Sotiraq Filo Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Maliq Gezim Topçiu Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Pogradec Ilir Xhakolli Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Pustec Pali Kolefeski Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Kukës Has Miftar Dauti Together We Win Bashkë Fitojmë
Kukës Safet Gjici Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Tropojë Rexhe Byberi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Lezhë Kurbin Majlinda Cara Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Lezhë Pjerin Ndreu Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Mirditë Albert Mëlyshi Together We Win Bashkë Fitojmë
Shkodër Fushë-Arrëz Hilë Curri Together We Win Bashkë Fitojmë
Malësia e Madhe Tonin Marinaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Pukë Rrok Dodaj Together We Win Bashkë Fitojmë
Shkodër Benet Beci Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Vau i Dejës Kristian Shkreli Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Tirana Kamëz Rakip Suli Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Kavajë Fisnik Qosja Together We Win Bashkë Fitojmë
Rrogozhinë Edison Memolla Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Tirana Erion Veliaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Vorë Blerim Shera Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Vlorë Delvinë Besmir Veli Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Finiq Romeo ÇakuliGreek Ethnic Minority for the Future
Himarë Dhionisios Alfred Beleri [c] Together We Win Bashkë Fitojmë
Konispol Ergest Duli Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Sarandë Oltian Çaçi Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Selenicë Nertil Bellaj Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
Vlorë Ermal Dredha Socialist Party Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane

Mayoral results of follow-up by-elections

Results from the partial election [40]
DateDistrictsTurnoutWinnerPolitical partySocialistTogether We Win
23 Jul 2023 Rrogozhinë 36.15%Edison MemollaSocialist Party57.58%42.42%
24 Sep 2023 Kukës 45.29%Albert HalilajSocialist Party63.67%36.33%
04 Aug 2024 Himarë 37.61% Vangjel Tavo Socialist Party58.62%41.38%

Municipal council results

All council seats were being elected.

CountyMunicipalityCouncil SeatsVote Share BF

(Together we Win)

Vote Share PS

(Socialist Party)

Vote Share PD

(Democratic Party)

Other parties and independent candidatesLargest party
Berat Berat 3172031PS
Dimal 2131143PS
Kuçova 3181832PS
Poliçan 1511310PS
Skrapar 155802PS
Dibër Bulqizë 213918PS
Dibër 31513112PS
Klos 2126112PS
Mat 212928PS
Durrës Durrës 51132855PS
Krujë 31511213PS
Shijak 2141223PS
Elbasan Belsh 2121036PS
Cërrik 2131125PS
Elbasan 51122874PS
Gramsh 2126112PS
Librazhd 2131314PS
Peqin 214935PS
Përrenjas 213927PS
Fier Divjakë 3151844PS
Fier 5173347PS
Lushnjë 4172446PS
Mallakastër 212937PS
Patos 2131611PS
Roskovec 2171202PS
Gjirokastër Dropull 2131503PS
Gjirokastër 3152123PS
Këlcyra 1513110PS
Libohovë 155820PS
Memaliaj 153723PS
Përmet 151914PS
Tepelena 1511112PS
Korçë Devoll 214926PS
Kolonja 1521003PS
Korça 4192327PS
Maliq 3162023PS
Pogradec 3151925PS
Pustec 154506PS
Kukës Has 2134113PS
Kukës 3144122PS
Tropojë 2144013PS
Lezhë Kurbin 3169115PS
Lezhë 4169224PS
Mirditë 2124213PS
Shkodër Fushë-Arrëz 1512111PSD
Malësia e Madhe 3136319PSD
Pukë 1512111PSD
Shkodër 511318515PS
Vau i Dejës 3177314PSD
Tirana Kamëz 41111938PS
Kavajë 3191336PS
Rrogozhinë 214935PS
Tirana 61153448PS
Vorë 2141304PS
Vlorë Delvinë 153813PS
Finiq 215727PS
Himarë 217914PS
Konispol 153714PS
Sarandë 31412312PS
Selenicë 2118210PS
Vlorë 5193336PS

Full results by party/coalition:

Party/CoalitionLeaderVotesPercentage of VotesSeats
Socialist Party of Albania Edi Rama 579,61443.11%758
Together We Win [d] Sali Berisha 247,88018.44%292
Democratic Party of Albania Enkelejd Alibea 103,7197.71%123
Social Democratic Party of Albania Tom Doshi 86,2816.42%116
Environmentalist Agrarian Party of Albania Agron Duka44,0473.28%52
Albanian Republican Party Fatmir Mediu 32,0702.39%34
Party for Justice, Integration and Unity Shpëtim Idrizi 28,9772.16%25
Legality Movement Party Shpetim Axhami23,6831.76%21
Green Party of Albania Edlir Petanaj16,3261.21%20
Progressive Alliance [e] Dashamir Shehi22,9061.70%19
Social Democracy Party Paskal Milo 21,7981.62%18
National Arbnore AllianceGjet Ndoj11,6800.87%18
New Democratic Spirit Sali Shehu18,4581.37%17
Coalition “Right Liberal Alliance” [f] Artur Roshi16,8581.25%13
Democratic Alliance of Albania Eduard Abazi6,1290.46%10
Albanian Future PartyEmin Subashi6,9630.52%8
Christian Democratic Party Dhimiter Muslia6,2110.46%8
Greek Ethnic Minority for the Future PartyKristo Kiço2,2750.17%8
Independent candidates7,1650.53%7
Hashtag Initiative Endrit Shabani 10,8040.80%5
National Front Party Adriatik Alimadhi7,6110.57%5
Christian Democratic Alliance of Albania Zef Bushati 6,3730.47%5
Party Alliance for Democracy and SolidarityGaqo Apostoli4,6470.35%5
National Unity Party Idajet Beqiri5,5920.42%4
Democratic Conviction Astrit Patozi 4,2260.31%4
National Conservative Party of AlbaniaKujtim Gjuzi1,8810.14%4
Macedonian Alliance for European Integration Vasil Sterjovski4390.03%3
Party of Albanian Democratic Reforms Skender Halili1,3830.1%2
Albanian Labour MovementGenci Sakaj5460.04%2
Together Movement Arlind Qori7,5390.56%1
Conservative PartyBashkim Murati2,7670.21%1
Alliance for Equality and European Justice Valentino Mustaka1,1250.08%1
New MovementArian Galdini9660.07%1
Communist Party of Albania Qemal Cicollari9140.07%1
Party for the Defence of the Rights of the EmigrantsYmer Kurti8860.07%1
Left FrontMarko Dajti2700.02%1

Reactions

Edi Rama and the PS was able to keep control on a majority of municipalities and thanked voters for entrusting him. However, the opposition claimed election misconduct, stating that they were not allowed to count ballots in every district. Berisha and other members of the opposition argued it was unfair to have given the opposition an odd number of vote counters. Together We Win was only allowed to count ballots in 50% of the country. [41] Vote buying was the biggest accusation from the opposition. [42] [43] Workers of every municipality had shown up on election day waiting outside every polling station. [44]

Opposition groups also claimed that in the three districts that did use an electronic voting system, Vorë, Kamëz, and Elbasan, there were failures in the electronic identification system. [45] [46] [47] Some workers also claimed that they voted for an opposition candidate, only for their vote to show up for the Socialist candidate. [48] The CEC has argued that this is not possible. Several political groups of the opposition argued the electronic voting system violated the election codes. [49] [50]

On 16 June 2023, the elected mayor for Kukës, Safet Gjici, resigned following a leaked sex tape in the municipal office. [51] He was caught with a female worker giving him oral sex. He resigned effective immediately, which caused a by-election to be held.

The Council of Europe stated that the elections were "well-administered, lacked women as candidates and in administration, and lacked focus on local issues" [52]

On 5 March 2024, mayor-elect of Himarë Dhionisios Alfred Beleri, who had been arrested on 12 May 2023, two days before the election, was sentenced to two years in prison for alleged vote buying. [53] The previous mayor, Jorgo Goro, continued to serve his term in the meantime, as Beleri was not allowed to complete his oath to be sworn in as mayor.

On 23 March 2024, Jorgo Goro was himself arrested by SPAK for corruption. [54] [55]

On 4 August 2024, Vangjel Tavo was the candidate of the Socialist Party for the repeat elections in the municipality of Himarë and won his opponent, Petro Gjikuria, who was supported by the coalition of the opposition Together We Win. [56]

Notes

  1. Coalition led by Berisha-led PD faction, PL, PBDNJ, PDK
  2. Coalition led by Artur Roshi which consists of PBKD, BLD, PBD
  3. As indicated on the KQZ website
  4. Coalition led by Berisha-led PD faction, PL, PBDNJ, PDK
  5. Coalition led by Dashamir Shehi
  6. Coalition led by Artur Roshi which consists of PBKD, BLD, PBD

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