Panelists:
GENTIOLA MADHI, Associated Researcher at the European Movement Albania and Osservatiorio Balcani e Caucaso - Transeuropa
Moderation:
STEPHANIE FENKART, Director of the IIP
HANNES SWOBODA, President of the IIP and former MEP
Content:
Once again, on the 25th of April this year the Albanians elect 140 members of a new parliament and a new government. The deep polarization in the last elections (2017) led to the opposition members to leave the parliament in February 2019 due to claims of voter fraud and government corruption. This strengthened even more the existing polarization between position end opposition. The, on purpose created, tense pre-election atmosphere did not help but increased incidents and heated debates. The leader of the ruling Socialist Party and Prime Minister Edi Rama argues that he needs a third term to “finish what he started” while the leader of the Democratic Party (Opposition), Lulzim Basha, wants to change Albania. In the slow election count the current Prime Minister takes a lead, yet it is still a tight race to secure a majority in parliament.
In 2009 Albania formally applied for membership in the European Union and in 2014 it was granted candidate status. In 2016 the Commission recommended the launch of negotiations. After being blocked by some EU member states, the European Union finally granted Albania and North Macedonia with the opening of accession negotiations in March 2020– acknowledging the efforts which Albania took in recent years, especially judiciary reforms.
What can we expect from the results of the parliamentary elections and which political parties can we expect to form a new government? What does it mean for Albania domestically, but also regionally? What are the main challenges and prospects for the years to come? Is a change needed or possible?