Local elections were held in Albania held on 30 June 2019. Voters were asked to elect mayors, municipal council members, municipal unit mayors and municipal unit members. These were the second local elections in Albania since substantial administrative reforms legislated in 2014 reduced the number of municipalities in the country to 61.
The Central Election Commission of Albania was responsible for administrating the elections.
Background Following months of political crisis, opposition parties promised to not participate in the election, accusing the government and the Prime Minister of vote buying, voter intimidation and links with criminal organizations which had contributed to the Socialist Party's majority in previous elections.
The President originally attempted to postpone the elections, instead opting to hold them on October 13 after many protests were held by opposition parties, some of which turned violent. The postponement was, however, not accepted by the government and the CEC, which decided to continue with the process on the original date.
The Socialists ran uncontested in 31 municipalities, facing smaller parties and independent candidates in the other 30 municipalities, including the newly formed , resulting in an absolute win by the Socialists in all municipalities except Finiq, and the Socialists gaining the most votes in all city council elections except Finiq and Pukë.
In most areas, turnout was low, ranging between under 10% in Shkodra to around 38% in Librazhd. Only one municipality, Pustec, was outside of this range, and had a turnout of over 50%.
Parties and coalitions Following the decision of the Albanian opposition to not run in the elections, the incumbent Socialist Party and their alliance faced very little competition in most municipalities, only having to counter small parties and independents.
The Democratic Party opted to not partake in the elections, following several months of protests.
NumberPartyAcronymChairmanCoalition1Fryma e Re DemokratikeFRDBamir Topi–2Partia Demokracia e Re EuropianePDREKoci TahiriShpresa për Ndryshim3Partia Balli Kombëtar ShqiptarPBKAdriatik AlimadhiShpresa për Ndryshim4Partia Bashkimi Liberal DemokratBLDArian StarovaShpresa për Ndryshim5Aleanca Kuq e ZiAKLumturi RatkoceriShpresa për Ndryshim6Partia Ora e ShqiperisePOSHZef ShtjefniShpresa për Ndryshim7Partia Emigracionit ShqiptarPESHKostaq PapaShpresa për Ndryshim8Partia Komuniste e ShqipërisëPKSHQemal Cicollari–9Partia Personat me Aftesi te KufizuarPPAKGjovalin Shqalshi–10Aleanca për Barazi dhe Drejtësi EuropianeABDEValentino MustakaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane11Partia Aleanca Arbnore KombetareAAKGjet NdojAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane12Partia Demokracia Sociale e ShqipërisëPDSPaskal MiloAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane13Partia Kristian Demokrate e ShqipërisëPKDDhimiter MusliaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane14Partia Lëvizja Punëtore ShqiptarePLPSHGenc SakajAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane15Partia e Pajtimit Kombëtar ShqiptarPPKSpartak DobiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane16Partia e Gjelbër e ShqipërisëPGJEdlir PetanajAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane17Partia G99G99Redi ShtinoAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane18Partia e Reformave Demokratike ShqiptarePRDSHKrenar RryçiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane19Partia Aleanca DemokristianeADKZef BushatiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane20Partia Socialpunëtore ShqiptarePSPRamadan NdrekaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane21Partia Aleanca për Demokraci dhe SolidaritetADSGaqo ApostoliAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane22Partia për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave të Emigrantëve e ShqipërisëPMDEYmer KurtiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane23Partia Demokrate Per Integrim e ProsperitetPDIPKujtim MucaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane24Partia Aleanca DemokratikeADEduart AbaziAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane25Partia Socialiste e ModeruarPSMGjergj KojaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane26Partia Ardhmëria ShqiptarePASHEmin SubashiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane27Partia e Unitetit Kombëtar ShqipëtarPUKIdajet BeqiriAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane28Partia Socialdemokrate e ShqipërisëPSDEngjell BejtajAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane29Partia e të Drejtave të MohuaraPDMIlir VataAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane30Partia Socialiste e ShqipërisëPSEdi RamaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane31Partia Aleanca Maqedonase për Integrimin EuropianAMIEEdmond Themelko–32Partia për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave të PunëtorëvePMDPSHKadri Isufaj–33Partia Kombetare KonservatorePKKAKujtim Gjuzi–34Partia per Liri Demokraci dhe EtikeLDEArian Galdini–35Raporti i auditimit për Partia Minoriteti Etnik Grek për të ArdhmenMEGAKristo Kiço–36Partia Bindja DemokratikeBDAstrit Patozi–
Results
Five days after the election, on July 4, 2019, only preliminary results were available. The final results were not published until the end of July.
Shkodër and Finiq remained led by the opposition, despite boycotts. Other municipalities returned a majority for the Socialist Party. According to official figures, turnout was 22.97%, equivalent to 812,249 people. The opposition stated that, according to their calculations, only 534,528 people took part, which means that the turnout was 15.12%. The elections were declared as a farce by leader of the opposition Lulzim Basha at the time.
Shkodër was handed back to Voltana Ademi following a trial against the official winner who was suspected to have been involved in trafficking. CountyMunicipality Council SeatsVote Share PS (Socialist Party)ASHE Seats (Socialist Party)Other parties and independent candidatesWinnerBeratBerat3190.79 %30 (29)1Socialist PartyBeratKuçova3182.28 %31 (26)0Socialist PartyBeratPoliçan1587.07 %15 (13)0Socialist PartyBeratSkrapar1585.32 %14 (13)1Socialist PartyBeratUra Vajgurore2174.34 %21 (15)0Socialist PartyDibër Bulqizë2133.55 %20 (7)1Socialist PartyDibër Dibër 3145.72 %29 (14)2Socialist PartyDibër Klos2128.26 %21 (6)0Socialist PartyDibër Mat2151.69 %21 (11)0Socialist PartyDurrësDurrës5187.13 %50 (46)1Socialist PartyDurrësKrujë3169.37 %31 (23)0Socialist PartyDurrësShijak2173.76 %20 (+6)1Socialist PartyElbasanBelsh2180.14 %20 (18)1Socialist PartyElbasanCërrik2188.13 %21 (19)0Socialist PartyElbasanElbasan5180.43 %49 (43)2Socialist PartyElbasanGramsh2147.74 %21 (10)0Socialist PartyElbasanLibrazhd2154.21 %18 (12)3Socialist PartyElbasanPeqin2184.85 %21 (18)0Socialist PartyElbasanPërrenjas2164.45 %21 (13)0Socialist PartyFier Divjakë3181.95 %31 (26)0Socialist PartyFier Fier5191.19 %51 (48)0Socialist PartyFier Lushnjë4183.08 %40 (33)1Socialist PartyFier Mallakastër2164.74 %21 (15)0Socialist PartyFier Patos2189.82 %21 (19)0Socialist PartyFier Roskovec2192.06 %21 (19)0Socialist PartyGjirokastërDropull2176.99 %18 (16)3Socialist PartyGjirokastërGjirokastër3163.09 %30 (19)1Socialist PartyGjirokastërKëlcyra1522.78 %13 (4)2Socialist PartyGjirokastërLibohovë1573.63 %14 (12)1Socialist PartyGjirokastërMemaliaj2177.76 %21 (17)0Socialist PartyGjirokastërPërmet1544.17 %15 (7)0Socialist PartyGjirokastërTepelena1580.21 %15 (12)0Socialist PartyKorçë Devoll2168.54 %21 (15)0Socialist PartyKorçë Kolonja1560.74 %15 (10)0Socialist PartyKorçë Korça4176.94 %39 (33)2Socialist PartyKorçë Maliq3182.34 %31 (26)0Socialist PartyKorçë Pogradec3162.06 %30 (20)1Socialist PartyKorçë Pustec1543.04 %11 (6)4Socialist PartyKukës Has2122.4 %20 (5)1Socialist PartyKukës Kukës3124.17 %27 (8)4Socialist PartyKukës Tropojë2131.31 %21 (7)0Socialist PartyLezhë Kurbin3154.28 %28 (11)3Socialist PartyLezhë Lezhë4135.27 %30 (15)1Socialist PartyLezhë Mirditë2124.77 %21 (5)0Socialist PartyShkodër Fushë-Arrëz1532.27 %13 (5)2Socialist PartyShkodër Malësia e Madhe3134.56 %26 (11)5Socialist PartyShkodër Pukë1527.66 %15 (4)0Socialist PartyShkodër Shkodër 5175.83 %51 (40)0Socialist PartyShkodër Vau i Dejës3143.99 %31 (14)0Socialist PartyTirana Kamëz4187.61 %40 (36)1Socialist PartyTirana Kavajë3194.36 %31 (29)0Socialist PartyTirana Rrogozhinë2193.94 %21 (20)0Socialist PartyTirana Tirana6185.82 %59 (56)2Socialist PartyTirana Vorë2182.43 %20 (18)1Socialist PartyVlorë Delvinë15100.0 %15 (15)0Socialist PartyVlorë Finiq2134.49 %12 (8)9MEGAVlorë Himarë2163.82 %20 (14)1Socialist PartyVlorë Konispol15100.0 %15 (15)0Socialist PartyVlorë Sarandë3168.09 %27 (23)4Socialist PartyVlorë Selenicë2166.41 %21 (15)0Socialist PartyVlorë Vlorë 5186.65 %49 (47)2Socialist Party
By-elections of March 2022 After the results of the 2019 elections, by-elections were announced on March 6, 2022, as at the time there was no elected mayor in Vorë, Dibër, Shkodër, Lushnjë, Rrogozhine and Durrës. Several candidates that had been elected in June 2019 had not taken office either due to their death, or they had been arrested on corruption charges.
Between the 2019 elections and the March 2022 by-elections, Sali Berisha had been expelled from the PD by the party's leadership. However, he had previously personally conducted a party congress in which participants had deposed the party leadership of Lulzim Basha.
In the partial elections of the aforementioned six municipalities, a candidate from the Democratic Party and a Berisha candidate ran alongside a candidate from the Socialist Party. The Berisha loyalist candidates ran under the coalition name ("House of Freedom"). In all communities, House of Freedom candidates received significantly more votes than the official PD representatives. Berisha's candidate managed to win in Shkodër, while the rest of the municipalities were won by the Socialist Party.
In the three voting stations of Bruçaj, Ndrejaj and Palaj, small villages in the northern mountains of Albania, elections were not held due to bad weather from heavy snowfall causing power cuts.
+Results from the partial election MunicipalityTurnoutWinnerPolitical party PS PD SHeLVorë41.04%Blerim SheraSocialist Party 69.39% 6.29%24.33% Dibër 41.99%Rahim SpahiuSocialist Party 60.82%19.28%19.46%Lushnjë35.88%Eriselda SefaSocialist Party 58.80% 10.43%30.77%Shkodër28.05%Bardh SpahiaHouse of Freedom39.51%16.82% 43.67%Durrës26.57%Emiriano SakoSocialist Party 58.47%11.85%29.68%Rrogozhinë28.45%Edison MemollaSocialist Party 60.73%21.96%17.31%
References
External links Central Elections Commissions