Have the elections brought Albania closer to EU and why it matters for Ukraine?

On Sunday, 11 May, parliamentary elections were held in the Republic of Albania – the eleventh since the fall of Enver Hoxha’s communist regime.

The elections themselves held little intrigue. Opinion polls indicated that Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, in power since 2013, was likely to retain its majority.

However, a more important question loomed: would the West consider these elections democratic and fair? Especially since Edi Rama has given plenty of reasons for criticism.

Read more about the results of Albania’s parliamentary elections, whether they are favourable for Ukraine, the secret to the Albanian prime minister’s success, and the challenges faced by this EU candidate country in the article by Western Balkans expert Volodymyr Tsybulnyk: The unshakeable Rama: what the elections revealed about Ukraine’s EU ‘competitors’.

The election campaign was generally calm, without major violations or scandals – a welcome contrast to elections in some neighbouring countries.

As expected, the Socialists won and announced their intention to nominate Edi Rama for another term as head of government.

According to about 90% of ballots counted, the Socialist Party improved its performance compared to previous elections and is set to claim 82 seats – more than enough for a majority.

This strong result is attributed to the Socialists’ party discipline, a powerful media campaign, and promises of better living conditions.

Another key factor in Rama’s favour is the progress toward Albania’s EU accession. Since 2022, the country has opened three negotiation clusters.

Rama insists that Albania will become an EU member by 2030. Consequently, EU integration became one of the main themes of the campaign, with the Socialist Party slogan being "Albania 2030 in the EU."

Rama’s victory is good news for Ukraine.

He has consistently supported Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression and has provided all possible assistance.

It is no coincidence that Ukraine’s friends in the Western Balkans – Albania, Kosovo, and Croatia – signed a declaration in March this year to strengthen defence cooperation. They do not want to allow the "Russian world" (or the "Serbian" one) to threaten peace and stability in the region.

However, from within Albania, the elections and the country’s situation appear less optimistic.

Low voter turnout reflects fatigue with both Rama and his main rival, Sali Berisha, who have alternated in power throughout the post-Hoxha period.

In such conditions, the votes of civil servants and state-sector employees gain disproportionate influence, effectively turning them into "slaves" of the next election’s outcome.

For a country with over 10% unemployment (and 25% among youth), this poses a real threat to the well-being of entire families.

It is no surprise that some European politicians and many professional political scientists describe Rama’s system of governance as a "soft autocracy."

The country faces serious challenges with corruption at the top of the list.

At the same time, some politicians believe that under the guise of fighting corruption, Rama is primarily targeting the opposition.

Albania’s path toward EU membership will force Brussels to look more closely at these issues.

Therefore, Rama’s next term as prime minister could prove to be a turning point.