Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 25 April 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic to elect the 140 members of the parliament. A total of 1,871 candidates, including 732 women, were registered, with ten political parties, two coalitions and three independent candidates contesting the election. The Socialist Party (PS), led by incumbent Prime Minister Edi Rama, opted for an independent participation, while the opposition Democratic Party (PD), under Lulzim Basha, formed the Democratic Party – Alliance for Change (PD – AN), a coalition with 12 smaller parties. Other notable political entities, including the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), also pursued electoral success independently. The election campaign was highly polarised, with competing narratives centered on pressing national issues such as European Union (EU) accession, economic development, healthcare reform, infrastructure modernisation, and the government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Campaign strategies were significantly altered due to the pandemic, with political parties increasingly relying on digital platforms and social media to reach voters, as traditional in-person events were limited by public health restrictions.
Voter turnout was recorded at 46%, with 1,661,176 voters casting their ballots. The PS emerged as the dominant political force, securing 49% of the vote, which translated into 74 seats in parliament, thereby maintaining its parliamentary majority. This marked a third consecutive victory for the PS and Prime Minister Rama. The PD – AN coalition experienced a notable recovery compared to previous electoral cycles, securing 39% of the vote and winning 59 seats. Conversely, the LSI suffered a sharp decline, losing 15 seats and securing just four seats overall, while the PSD contested the elections with limited success. One of the key challenges in the election was the high rate of invalid votes, 83,059 ballots, 5% of the total, were invalid, primarily due to voter confusion with the new ballot design, which only displayed candidate numbers rather than names for preferential votes.
Prime Minister Rama's government received a vote of confidence in parliament on 10 September 2021, enabling the formation of his third cabinet. Subsequently, on 18 September, the cabinet was formally sworn in, with a renewed focus on earthquake reconstruction, economic recovery, pandemic management, and efforts to strengthen the rule of law. The new administration's priorities included the continued rebuilding of infrastructure following the devastating 2019 earthquake, as well as the implementation of reforms aimed at modernising Albania's economy and improving the welfare system. These efforts were framed within the context of Albania's aspirations for EU integration.
Background.
Following the 2017 parliamentary elections the Socialist Party (PS), led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, secured a second consecutive term. The PS maintained a dominant position in the parliament, winning 74 of the 140 seats. The Democratic Party (PD) followed with 43 seats, while the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) obtained 19 seats. Other parties represented included the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PDIU), with three seats, and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), with one seat. By early 2019, an unrest arose as the opposition, particularly the PD and LSI, expressed intense dissatisfaction with the administration of Rama, citing allegations of perceived corruption and electoral fraud. Both parties rescinded all their parliamentary mandates after the government voted down their initiative for the vetting of politicians. This discontent led to their boycott of the municipal elections, as they claimed the process was neither free nor fair. It resulted in the (KQZ) reallocating vacant seats to remaining registered candidates. The situation became further complicated by a confrontation between President Ilir Meta and Rama, with the former attempting to annul the municipal elections through a presidential decree, which prompted the latter to seek the dismissal of the president. In November 2019, Albania was struck by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake centered near Durrës that resulted in substantial casualties and extensive infrastructural damage.
In March 2020, Albania encountered additional complexities with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government instituted a comprehensive set of public health measures, including nationwide lockdowns, travel restrictions, and the enforcement of social distancing protocols, which resulted in profound economic repercussions. In June, an agreement was reached to implement a depoliticised electoral administration, consistent with recommendations from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which included the introduction of electronic voter identification and the restructuring of the KQZ. Subsequently, on 23 July, the parliament adopted amendments to the electoral code, followed by constitutional revisions on 30 July. The parliament further initiated impeachment proceedings against Meta, however, an inquiry committee concluded that he had overstepped his constitutional authority by postponing municipal elections, impeachment was not warranted. On 5 October 2020, the parliament approved further amendments to the electoral code, aimed at enhancing gender representation, safeguarding public resources, and reforming candidate verification, nomination processes, campaign financing, and dispute mechanisms.
COVID-19 measures.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection implemented a comprehensive protocol to guarantee the safety of voters and electoral personnel during the election on 25 April. Approved on 13 April, the protocol aimed to prevent virus transmission and maintain electoral integrity. It specified that voting centers had to be located on the ground floor of buildings with proper ventilation. All personnel and observers were required to complete a self-declaration form confirming the absence of COVID-19 symptoms, which included a mandatory temperature check. Observers, both party-affiliated and independent, were allowed to monitor all phases of the electoral process without obstruction. Disinfection protocols were crucial, requiring voting spaces to be disinfected one day before the election and at regular intervals throughout the voting period. Hand sanitizers were made available at the entrance and throughout the area to promote hygiene.
Strict social distancing guidelines limited the number of voters inside each voting center to the number of secret voting booths plus two additional individuals, with individuals waiting to vote required to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters. Personal protective equipment, including masks, was mandatory for all election commission members and accredited observers, who had to wear masks at all times while inside the voting center. On election day, voters were required to sanitize their hands and wear masks before entering the polling area, while election officials managed orderly voter movements to facilitate social distancing. Notably, 23,625 citizens infected with COVID-19 were unable to participate in the elections due to isolation protocols. Furthermore, Albanian citizens returning from Greece and North Macedonia shortly before the election were barred from voting because of a 14-day quarantine mandate imposed by the Technical Committee of Experts on 19 April. This decision prompted significant debate among the participating political parties and coalition but was upheld by the Administrative Court of Appeal.
Electoral system.
The electoral system of Albania is constructed upon the principles defined in the constitution and the electoral code. As a parliamentary constitutional republic, Albania implements a regional proportional representation method that allocates seats in the parliament according to the proportion of votes garnered by political parties in a multi-party system. The parliament is composed of 140 representatives with a term of four years, where 100 members are elected directly from multi-member constituencies and 40 members from multi-name lists of parties or coalitions. The constitution codifies substantial democratic principles, stipulating that voting rights are equal, free, and conducted through secret ballot. All citizens of Albania, upon reaching the age of 18 and have not been deprived of voting rights, are permitted to participate in elections. The electoral code also establishes comprehensive procedures for voter registration, ensuring that all eligible citizens can participate fully in the process. The allocation of representatives in the parliament is integrated on population size within 12 electoral districts, which correspond to the administrative regions of Albania. To ensure proportional representation, the d'Hondt method is employed for seat distribution, contingent upon an electoral threshold of 1%. This method facilitates a fair allocation of seats relative to the number of registered citizens in each district of Albania.
Election date.
According to the constitution, parliamentary elections in Albania are required to be conducted no later than 60 days and no earlier than 30 days prior to the expiration of the parliament's mandate. On 4 September 2020, President Ilir Meta initiated several consultations to determine the election date for the upcoming parliamentary elections, inviting representatives from both parliamentary and non-parliamentary political parties to the . The aim of the consultations was to ensure an organised and transparent electoral process. Lulzim Basha of the Democratic Party (PD) proposed 18 April 2021 as the optimal election date, a suggestion that garnered support from other political leaders and smaller party representatives. Edi Rama of the Socialist Party (PS) expressed a willingness to consider various dates but opposed 2 May due to its conflict with Easter celebrations. Rudina Hajdari of countered with the suggestion of 2 May, arguing that elections could be conducted on holidays without compromising the democratic process. This sentiment was echoed by Arben Tafaj of the Agrarian Party and Vangjel Dule of the Unity for Human Rights Party, who advocated for holding elections at the earliest possible opportunity. Conclusively, on 6 September, Meta announced that the 2021 elections would be scheduled for 25 April 2021.
Parliamentary parties.
As of the electoral code, a parliamentary party is defined as a political organisation that has achieved representation in the parliament by obtaining a minimum of one seat in the most recent electoral contest. Subsequent to the 2017 parliamentary election, the PS obtained 74 of the 140 seats, emerging as the majority party. The PD secured 43 seats, while the Socialist Movement for Integration acquired 19 seats. Further, the Party for Justice, Integration, and Unity received 3 seats, and the Social Democratic Party attained 1 seat.
Parties and coalitions.
According to the electoral code, each political party is mandated to submit a registration request to the KQZ no later than 70 days prior to the scheduled election date. This request must comprehensively contain several critical components, including the identity of the party chair authorised to present candidates, the official name and acronym of the party, a specimen of the official stamp, and the contact information for both the finance officer and communication officer. Registered political parties have the option to form coalitions, which must also be registered with the KQZ at least 60 days before the election. A political party that is part of a coalition is restricted from engaging in another coalition or presenting candidates independently. The coalition is required to designate a leading party, which assumes the responsibility for fulfilling the legal obligations formed in the electoral code, and to document inter-party relations in a formal coalition agreement submitted to the KQZ. It is essential that both political parties and coalitions submit a multi-name list of candidates for the parliament election no later than 50 days prior to the election. For the 2021 parliamentary elections, the Socialist Party opted to participate independently, stating its intention to avoid political coalitions. The Democratic Party formed a coalition called the Democratic Party-Alliance for Change (PD-AN) with 12 other parties to present a unified candidate list. The Socialist Movement for Integration also announced its intention to compete independently, while indicating plans to corporate with the two major opposition parties in the counties of Dibër, Gjirokastër and Kukës to create a joint candidate list. However, the KQZ did not register the Party for Albanian People's Welfare, the Labor Party of Albania, and the Party for the Defense of Albanian Workers' Rights due to the absence of a designated bank account number in their submissions. Furthermore, the coalition National Hour Alliance – Emigration – People's Union and Conservatives (AOKBPEK) was formed by the Conservative Party, comprising four parties.
Electoral lists.
On 1 April 2021, the KQZ confirmed the electoral lists for the 2021 parliamentary elections. Political parties were required to register by 15 February, while coalitions had until 25 February to complete their registration. A total of 1,871 candidates were registered, of which 732 were women, aligning with the electoral code's mandate that at least one third of candidates from the underrepresented gender must be included on each list. The code also stipulates that candidate lists must incorporate at least one woman for every three candidates, starting from the first position, although the specifics regarding sequencing were somewhat ambiguous. Candidates were required to submit lists for each of the 12 electoral districts, with parties needing to collect 5,000 voter signatures and coalitions 7,000 signatures to validate their participation. However, parliamentary parties and coalitions that