Ruling Socialist Party wins in Albania's local elections

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama speaks at a press conference in Tirana, capital of Albania, on March 16, 2023. (Photo by Gent Onuzi/Xinhua)

Preliminary turnout reported by the Central Election Commission was 37.79 percent, one of the lowest turnouts registered in any election to date.

TIRANA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Albania's ruling Socialist Party (SP) led by Prime Minister Edi Rama will lead 53 of the country's 61 municipalities in the next four years following the local elections held on Sunday.

In a brief message posted on social media on Tuesday, Rama thanked all citizens who voted in Albania's May 14 local elections, in which the SP won a landslide victory.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Rama said that "Now that the Albanians elected those they wanted, we will continue without wasting time the work that was slowed down by the campaign, not only at the local level, but also at the level of the central government."

A man casts his ballot during the local elections at a polling station in Tirana, capital of Albania, on May 14, 2023. (Photo by Gent Onuzi/Xinhua)

The Socialists were able to win not only in the important municipalities but also in the traditional Democrat strongholds, such as the Shkodra and Kamza municipalities.

The "Together We Win" coalition led by former President Ilir Meta and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha only managed to win seven municipalities across the country.

The main opposition Democratic Party lost in all the cities.

The Ethnic Greek Minority for the Future party (MEGA) won in the southern municipality of Finiq.

Local elections were held on May 14 in the country's 61 municipalities. The citizens elected mayors and members of the municipal councils for four-year terms.

Preliminary turnout reported by the Central Election Commission was 37.79 percent, one of the lowest turnouts registered in any election to date.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama casts his ballot during the local elections at a polling station in Tirana, capital of Albania, on May 14, 2023. (Photo by Gent Onuzi/Xinhua)

According to international observers, these elections were generally well-administered, competitive and held with the participation of the key political forces.

However, the process was characterized by continued polarization between the main political parties and deep divisions within the opposition, the international observers said in a preliminary report on Monday.