Albania is one of the Balkan countries that embarked on a democratization process in the post-Cold War period and adopted integration with Euro-Atlantic structures as a strategic goal. Although important steps have been taken in areas such as transition to multi-party life, institutional reforms, establishment of judicial independence and rule of law since the 1990s, political polarization and institutional inadequacies have continuously hindered democratic consolidation. In this context, Albania’s electoral processes have been political milestones that have not only marked the change of power but also the extent to which the European Union (EU) integration perspective has been embraced by the society.
The general elections in 2025 were considered as a critical threshold in this respect. On the one hand, they were decisive for the continuity of domestic political stability and the course of democratic functioning, and on the other hand, they served as a measure of whether Albania’s EU accession process had been reaffirmed by the public. The third consecutive electoral victory of Socialist Party leader Edi Rama is interpreted not only as a consolidation of the political power of a leader, but also as a development reflecting the sustainability of Albania’s European orientation in the eyes of the public. With a comfortable majority of around 82 seats in the 140-seat parliament, Rama also consolidated his position as the longest-serving prime minister in the democratic era.
In Rama’s post-election statements, it is clear how central the goal of EU membership plays both at a personal and national level. He called the election win ‘the most humbling moment of his life’ Rama described this process as ‘a historic moment for Albania as a future member state of the EU’.[i] Hence, this discourse is in line with the target of full membership by 2030, which was frequently voiced during the election campaign. Rama’s program to achieve this goal envisages concrete steps to be taken in the areas of economic reforms, democratization, transparency in public administration and rule of law.
In this context, the post-election meeting with the President of the European Council António Costa in Brussels is noteworthy. During the meeting, it was decided to open nine new chapters on the internal market in the negotiations with the EU, thus institutionalizing Albania’s reform process. The European Commission’s statements that the negotiations could be completed by 2027 made Albania the most serious candidate country in the region with Montenegro.[ii] These developments show that EU membership has become not only a foreign policy preference but also a cornerstone of domestic political legitimacy.
However, despite all these positive developments, there are some criticisms levelled by the opposition against the election process. The use of state resources in favor of the government, inequality in the media environment and indirect pressure on voters have raised questions about the compliance of the elections with democratic standards. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) stated that the elections were generally ‘comprehensive and transparent’, but noted that the long-standing dominance of the government gave unfair advantages. This points to important structural problems in Albania’s democratization process that still need to be overcome.
Another noteworthy element of the election campaign was the appointment of Chris LaCivita, Donald Trump’s 2024 election strategist in the United States of America (USA), as an advisor by the centre-right opposition Democratic Party.[iii] However, Rama’s response to this initiative is quite ironic: ‘Hiring LaCivita and thinking he can be Trump is like hiring a Hollywood hairdresser and thinking he can be Brad Pitt.’ With this statement, Rama criticized both his political opponents and the superficial importation of Western campaign techniques.
On the other hand, Rama has reinforced his EU vision not only through rhetoric but also through symbolic actions. His messages of solidarity with other candidate countries such as Ukraine and Georgia showed that Albania is not alone in this process and is open to co-operation among candidate countries. “Albania does not try to lecture Ukraine. On the contrary, we have a lot to learn from them”, Albania has adopted a modest and partnership-based approach.[iv]
In conclusion, Edi Rama’s electoral victory for the third time is not only a continuity of power, but also a turning point where Albania’s goal of EU membership has been reaffirmed in the eyes of the public. However, the realization of this goal depends not only on leadership determination but also on the functioning of democratic oversight mechanisms, the preservation of political pluralism and the effective continuation of a reform process based on the rule of law. Albania’s European perspective will henceforth remain a decisive reference point in both domestic and foreign policy.
[i] Una Hajdari, “Rama trounces MAGA-linked opponents to secure historic 4th term in Albania”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/albania-election-edi-rama-socialist-party-maga-opponents-eu-accession/, (Date Accessed: 18.05.2025).
[ii] Simone De La Feld, “Albania moves briskly toward EU membership, aiming to close accession talks by 2027”, EU News, https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/04/14/albania-moves-briskly-toward-eu-membership-aiming-to-close-accession-talks-by-2027/, (Date Accessed: 18.05.2025).
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] “Albania PM’s Socialist Party scores large victory in parliamentary elections”, France24, https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250514-albania-socialist-parliamentary-elections, (Date Accessed: 18.05.2025).
