Foreign media: Close race in Albania's parliamentary elections

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Initial polling data in Albania's Sunday parliamentary elections suggests the ruling Socialist Party is in a tight race with the opposition Democratic Party. The Euronews Albania exit poll, part of the London-based Cantar Group, projects the left-wing Socialists will win about 44% of the vote, while the Democrats are expected to catch about 42%.

About 3.6 million voters rightly voted in Albania and abroad voted to elect 140 lawmakers for a four-year term in the Balkan nation. “Process was marked by a quiet situation, security and integrity --” said Ilirjan Celibashi, head of the Central Election Commission. He said the winner will be known in 48 hours.

Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has been looking forward to starting full membership negotiations with the European Union with 27 members later this year, and Sunday's vote is considered a key moment on that road. Hope is for Albania's 10th post-communist parliamentary elections to be free and fair. So far, voting has always been accompanied by irregularities.

Sunday's preliminary turnout was almost 48%, slightly higher than four years ago. He had anomalies. Electronic identification tools have not worked at 167 out of 5,199 locations, as no operators have found them in those remote areas, according to Celibashi.

There were several attempts to photograph the ballots, which are not allowed by law, and some physical arguments among opposing political supporters. Prime Minister Edi Rama of the Socialists, who are demanding their third consecutive mandate, wants to step up Albania's efforts in tourism, energy, agriculture and digital projects.

Lulzim Basha of the Democrats accuses the government of corruption and links to organised crime and has promised lower taxes, higher salaries and more social support. Faces between supporters culminated Wednesday in the central town of Elbasan, where a Socialist Party activist died. Police said the victim was shot, allegedly by a member of the Democratic Party, during a debate.

Although officially impartial, President Ilir Meta has turned into a strong opponent of the government, accusing Rama of focusing legislative, administrative and judicial powers on his hands and running a <x0-> kleptocratic regime” that has hit Albania's unndemate response and has delayed the country's EU integration.

Many foreign observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Western embassies monitored the vote. American Ambassador Yuri Kim, who monitored the vote, urged candidates and political leaders “to accept voter judgment when the count ends”. EU Ambassador Luigi Sorica also called on political leaders to respect the “s of Albanian citizens”.

Albania has seen a significant decline in daily corruption cases over the past week, despite political gatherings held throughout the country. More than 400,000 people have received a vaccine blow. A day-long curfew has been implemented with restrictions on mandatory mask gatherings and clothing.