Exit polls suggest tight race in Albanian parliamentary elections

A poll that governs the Socialists will win 46.9% of the vote, giving them a small majority in parliament.

The Socialist Party in the Albanian government intends to narrowly win Sunday’s national elections and secure a third term for Prime Minister Edi Rama, the exit poll said.

According to a poll conducted by Top Channel TV, the Socialists would win 46.9% of the vote, giving them a small majority of 71 seats in a 140-seat parliament.

The Democratic Party led by Lulzim Basha would win 43.5% of the vote, and another smaller opposition party, the Socialist Integration Movement, would come in third with 6.9% of the vote.

The MRB of the London Singing Group’s poll for Euronews Albania predicts that the Socialists will gain about 44% of the vote and the Democratic Party is expected to capture about 42%.

No official results are expected before Monday.

“The process was characterized by a calm state, security and integrity,” said Ilirjan Celibashi, head of the General Electoral Commission. He said the winner will be known “within 48 hours”.

History of violence

Albania, with a population of 2.8 million, but 3.6 million voters due to its large diaspora, has had allegations of violence and fraud in the elections in the 30 years since the end of communism.

A supporter of the Socialist Party was killed on Wednesday and four people were injured in a shootout following a clash between Socialists and Democrats.

In 2014, Albania was nominated as a candidate for the European Union, but little progress has been made due to the growing fatigue around the bloc and the lack of reform within Albania.

Voters are eager to end widespread corruption. Albania ranks 104th on Transparency International’s list of 180 nations by 2020 and is accused by the United States of being a major source of marijuana production and other drug shipments.

Rama, a 56-year-old painter and former basketball player, has been in power for eight years.

Artist Orestia Nano said the main reason for voting is to end corruption.

“When I entered the University of Letters there were people my age who paid money to go to school. There are those who have to pay money to get health treatments (in state hospitals), ”he told Reuters.

“(Corruption) is pretty bad at very high levels.”

The new government will have to rebuild a coronavirus pandemic and homes after it killed 51 people in the 2019 earthquake and damaged more than 11,400 homes.