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.
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The Central Election Commission of Albania was responsible for administrating the elections.
Background
editFollowing 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.[1]
The Socialists ran uncontested in 31 municipalities, facing smaller parties and independent candidates in the other 30 municipalities, including the newly formed Bindja Demokratike, resulting in an absolute win by the Socialists in all municipalities except Finiq,[2] 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
editFollowing 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.[3][4]
| Number | Party | Acronym | Chairman | Coalition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fryma e Re Demokratike | FRD | Bamir Topi | – |
| 2 | Partia Demokracia e Re Europiane | PDRE | Koci Tahiri | Shpresa për Ndryshim |
| 3 | Partia Balli Kombëtar Shqiptar | PBK | Adriatik Alimadhi | Shpresa për Ndryshim |
| 4 | Partia Bashkimi Liberal Demokrat | BLD | Arian Starova | Shpresa për Ndryshim |
| 5 | Aleanca Kuq e Zi | AK | Lumturi Ratkoceri | Shpresa për Ndryshim |
| 6 | Partia Ora e Shqiperise | POSH | Zef Shtjefni | Shpresa për Ndryshim |
| 7 | Partia Emigracionit Shqiptar | PESH | Kostaq Papa | Shpresa për Ndryshim |
| 8 | Partia Komuniste e Shqipërisë | PKSH | Qemal Cicollari | – |
| 9 | Partia Personat me Aftesi te Kufizuar | PPAK | Gjovalin Shqalshi | – |
| 10 | Aleanca për Barazi dhe Drejtësi Europiane | ABDE | Valentino Mustaka | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 11 | Partia Aleanca Arbnore Kombetare | AAK | Gjet Ndoj | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 12 | Partia Demokracia Sociale e Shqipërisë | PDS | Paskal Milo | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 13 | Partia Kristian Demokrate e Shqipërisë | PKD | Dhimiter Muslia | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 14 | Partia Lëvizja Punëtore Shqiptare | PLPSH | Genc Sakaj | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 15 | Partia e Pajtimit Kombëtar Shqiptar | PPK | Spartak Dobi | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 16 | Partia e Gjelbër e Shqipërisë | PGJ | Edlir Petanaj | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 17 | Partia G99 | G99 | Redi Shtino | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 18 | Partia e Reformave Demokratike Shqiptare | PRDSH | Krenar Rryçi | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 19 | Partia Aleanca Demokristiane | ADK | Zef Bushati | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 20 | Partia Socialpunëtore Shqiptare | PSP | Ramadan Ndreka | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 21 | Partia Aleanca për Demokraci dhe Solidaritet | ADS | Gaqo Apostoli | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 22 | Partia për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave të Emigrantëve e Shqipërisë | PMDE | Ymer Kurti | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 23 | Partia Demokrate Per Integrim e Prosperitet | PDIP | Kujtim Muca | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 24 | Partia Aleanca Demokratike | AD | Eduart Abazi | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 25 | Partia Socialiste e Moderuar | PSM | Gjergj Koja | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 26 | Partia Ardhmëria Shqiptare | PASH | Emin Subashi | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 27 | Partia e Unitetit Kombëtar Shqipëtar | PUK | Idajet Beqiri | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 28 | Partia Socialdemokrate e Shqipërisë | PSD | Engjell Bejtaj | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 29 | Partia e të Drejtave të Mohuara | PDM | Ilir Vata | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 30 | Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë | PS | Edi Rama | Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane |
| 31 | Partia Aleanca Maqedonase për Integrimin Europian | AMIE | Edmond Themelko | – |
| 32 | Partia për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave të Punëtorëve | PMDPSH | Kadri Isufaj | – |
| 33 | Partia Kombetare Konservatore | PKKA | Kujtim Gjuzi | – |
| 34 | Partia per Liri Demokraci dhe Etike | LDE | Arian Galdini | – |
| 35 | Raporti i auditimit për Partia Minoriteti Etnik Grek për të Ardhmen | MEGA | Kristo Kiço | – |
| 36 | Partia Bindja Demokratike | BD | Astrit Patozi | – |
Results
editThis section may be confusing or unclear to readers. (April 2024) |
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.[5]
Shkodër and Finiq remained led by the opposition, despite boycotts. Other municipalities returned a majority for the Socialist Party.[6] 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%.[7][undue weight? – discuss] The elections were declared as a farce by leader of the opposition Lulzim Basha at the time.[8]
Shkodër was handed back to Voltana Ademi following a trial against the official winner who was suspected to have been involved in trafficking.[9]
| County | Municipality | Council Seats[10] | Vote Share PS
(Socialist Party) |
ASHE Seats
(Socialist Party) |
Other parties and independent candidates | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berat | Berat | 31 | 90.79 % | 30 (29) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Berat | Kuçova | 31 | 82.28 % | 31 (26) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Berat | Poliçan | 15 | 87.07 % | 15 (13) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Berat | Skrapar | 15 | 85.32 % | 14 (13) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Berat | Ura Vajgurore | 21 | 74.34 % | 21 (15) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Dibër | Bulqizë | 21 | 33.55 % | 20 (7) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Dibër | Dibër | 31 | 45.72 % | 29 (14) | 2 | Socialist Party |
| Dibër | Klos | 21 | 28.26 % | 21 (6) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Dibër | Mat | 21 | 51.69 % | 21 (11) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Durrës | Durrës | 51 | 87.13 % | 50 (46) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Durrës | Krujë | 31 | 69.37 % | 31 (23) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Durrës | Shijak | 21 | 73.76 % | 20 (+6) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Elbasan | Belsh | 21 | 80.14 % | 20 (18) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Elbasan | Cërrik | 21 | 88.13 % | 21 (19) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Elbasan | Elbasan | 51 | 80.43 % | 49 (43) | 2 | Socialist Party |
| Elbasan | Gramsh | 21 | 47.74 % | 21 (10) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Elbasan | Librazhd | 21 | 54.21 % | 18 (12) | 3 | Socialist Party |
| Elbasan | Peqin | 21 | 84.85 % | 21 (18) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Elbasan | Përrenjas | 21 | 64.45 % | 21 (13) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Fier | Divjakë | 31 | 81.95 % | 31 (26) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Fier | Fier | 51 | 91.19 % | 51 (48) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Fier | Lushnjë | 41 | 83.08 % | 40 (33) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Fier | Mallakastër | 21 | 64.74 % | 21 (15) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Fier | Patos | 21 | 89.82 % | 21 (19) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Fier | Roskovec | 21 | 92.06 % | 21 (19) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Gjirokastër | Dropull | 21 | 76.99 % | 18 (16) | 3 | Socialist Party |
| Gjirokastër | Gjirokastër | 31 | 63.09 % | 30 (19) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Gjirokastër | Këlcyra | 15 | 22.78 % | 13 (4) | 2 | Socialist Party |
| Gjirokastër | Libohovë | 15 | 73.63 % | 14 (12) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Gjirokastër | Memaliaj | 21 | 77.76 % | 21 (17) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Gjirokastër | Përmet | 15 | 44.17 % | 15 (7) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Gjirokastër | Tepelena | 15 | 80.21 % | 15 (12) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Korçë | Devoll | 21 | 68.54 % | 21 (15) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Korçë | Kolonja | 15 | 60.74 % | 15 (10) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Korçë | Korça | 41 | 76.94 % | 39 (33) | 2 | Socialist Party |
| Korçë | Maliq | 31 | 82.34 % | 31 (26) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Korçë | Pogradec | 31 | 62.06 % | 30 (20) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Korçë | Pustec | 15 | 43.04 % | 11 (6) | 4 | Socialist Party |
| Kukës | Has | 21 | 22.4 % | 20 (5) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Kukës | Kukës | 31 | 24.17 % | 27 (8) | 4 | Socialist Party |
| Kukës | Tropojë | 21 | 31.31 % | 21 (7) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Lezhë | Kurbin | 31 | 54.28 % | 28 (11) | 3 | Socialist Party |
| Lezhë | Lezhë | 41 | 35.27 % | 30 (15) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Lezhë | Mirditë | 21 | 24.77 % | 21 (5) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Shkodër | Fushë-Arrëz | 15 | 32.27 % | 13 (5) | 2 | Socialist Party |
| Shkodër | Malësia e Madhe | 31 | 34.56 % | 26 (11) | 5 | Socialist Party |
| Shkodër | Pukë | 15 | 27.66 % | 15 (4) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Shkodër | Shkodër | 51 | 75.83 % | 51 (40) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Shkodër | Vau i Dejës | 31 | 43.99 % | 31 (14) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Tirana | Kamëz | 41 | 87.61 % | 40 (36) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Tirana | Kavajë | 31 | 94.36 % | 31 (29) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Tirana | Rrogozhinë | 21 | 93.94 % | 21 (20) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Tirana | Tirana | 61 | 85.82 % | 59 (56) | 2 | Socialist Party |
| Tirana | Vorë | 21 | 82.43 % | 20 (18) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Vlorë | Delvinë | 15 | 100.0 % | 15 (15) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Vlorë | Finiq | 21 | 34.49 % | 12 (8) | 9 | MEGA |
| Vlorë | Himarë | 21 | 63.82 % | 20 (14) | 1 | Socialist Party |
| Vlorë | Konispol | 15 | 100.0 % | 15 (15) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Vlorë | Sarandë | 31 | 68.09 % | 27 (23) | 4 | Socialist Party |
| Vlorë | Selenicë | 21 | 66.41 % | 21 (15) | 0 | Socialist Party |
| Vlorë | Vlorë | 51 | 86.65 % | 49 (47) | 2 | Socialist Party |
References
edit- ^ "Albania's President Meta postpones local elections, protests continue". 10 June 2019.
- ^ "A disputed election leaves Albania's democracy in tatters".
- ^ "Albania votes amid opposition boycott". BBC News. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Polls close in Albania municipal election boycotted by opposition". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "KANDIDATËT FITUES PËR KËSHILL BASHKIAK" (PDF). Central electoral commission (in Albanian). Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Albania votes amid opposition boycott". BBC News. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "DP refuses to accept the turnout number announced by CEC". top-channel.tv. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Opposition rallies again to get Albanian PM to quit". Reuters. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Padia e Voltana Ademit, Gjykata Kushtetuese vendos sot për zgjedhjet vendore të 2019. Përfaqësuesja e qeverisë: Të mos shqyrtohet". www.balkanweb.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Zgjedhjet Vendore 2019: Shpërndarja e mandateve për këshillin" (PDF). Central Commission. Retrieved 5 January 2023.