Elections in Albania: Low turnout – Many complaints of electoral irregularities

The elections in Albania are currently taking place with low voter turnout. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former President Salih Berisha are the main contenders in this election.

Vote counting will commence once the polls close at 7 PM local time, with initial results anticipated later in the evening.

According to himara.gr, as of 10:00 AM, the turnout was only 13.24 percent, with 149,977 voters participating across 1,692 of the 5,225 constituencies.

Albanian media suggest that turnout could eventually surpass 50%, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the election process.

Complaints and Irregularities

Numerous complaints regarding the electoral process have already been filed, with 44 reports of irregularities submitted to the prosecution, primarily from the Fieri, Durres, and Elbasan districts.

In Finiki Municipality, voting was halted in the villages of Divri and Chalio following complaints from opposition candidates about violations and attempts to tamper with ballot boxes. Voting also did not commence in Grava and Gardikaki due to committee members failing to collect necessary materials for the polling stations.

In Fieri, a reported loss of 500 ballot papers was noted, with only 47 being accounted for. A Democratic Party candidate allegedly pressured delegates at a polling station. In Pogradec, there was a physical altercation involving voters. In Kukes, a 27-year-old was arrested for suspected vote buying, while in Resin, a candidate’s husband was detained for obstructing voters while intoxicated. Pekin experienced identification issues leading to manual voter registration.

Statements

Edi Rama cast his vote early, encouraging widespread participation. President Bairam Begay voted in Lusnia, emphasizing the importance of free voting. Sali Berisha referred to the day as “the second day of summer,” expressing optimism about his chances of victory.

Chris Lasivita, the Democratic Party’s campaign manager, condemned vote-buying attempts, labeling Rama’s methods as “communist.”