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.
