2019 Albanian local elections

2019 Albanian local elections were a set of elections 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.

2019 Albanian Local Elections
30 June 2019 (2019-06-30)
Map of Albania's Municipalities
Politics of Albania
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
 Albania  • icon Politics portal

The Central Election Commission of Albania was responsible for administrating the elections.

Following months of political crisis, the opposition parties refused to participate in the election accusing the government and the Prime Minister of vote buying, voters intimidation and links with criminal organizations that led to a Socialist Party majority in the previous elections.

The President had originally postponed the election date to October 13th after many protests organized by the opposition parties, some of which turned out violent, but it was 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 resulted in 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 Socialist party and their alliance had an advantage to win every district without having any competition besides smaller third party opposition. This decision came from Lulzim Basha following the Albanian political crisis. Following rumors of vote buying and intimidation.[3][4][5] The two following alliances were the Hope for Change (Shpresa për Ndryshim) a coalition of Centrist to Right-wing and the Alliance for a European Albania (Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane) a coalition of Far left to Centrist parties which consisted of the following parties:[6]

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 –


Election 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.[7] The Albanian opposition had boycotted the elections leading to the Socialists running uncontested in 31 municipalities, However Shkodër and Finiq remain lead by the opposition. As for the rest belonging to the Socialist Party.[8] According to official figures, the turnout was 22.97% or 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%.[9] The elections were declared as a farce by leader of the opposition Lulzim Basha at the time.[10] Shkodër was handed back to Voltana Ademi following a trial against the official winner who had been suspected to have been involved in trafficking.[11]

County Municipality Council Seats[12] 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
  1. "Albania's President Meta postpones local elections, protests continue". 10 June 2019.
  2. "A disputed election leaves Albania's democracy in tatters".
  3. "PM Rama Will Sue German Journalist over Wiretaps". Exit - Explaining Albania. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. "Albania votes amid opposition boycott". BBC News. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  5. "Polls close in Albania municipal election boycotted by opposition". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  6. (PDF). 10 July 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190710191011/http://cec.org.al/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Partite-Lista-Final-2019-Vendim-728-me-logo-2.pdf. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. "KANDIDATËT FITUES PËR KËSHILL BASHKIAK" (PDF). Central electoral commission (in Albanian). Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  8. "Albania votes amid opposition boycott". BBC News. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  9. "DP refuses to accept the turnout number announced by CEC". top-channel.tv. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  10. "Opposition rallies again to get Albanian PM to quit". Reuters. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  11. "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.
  12. "Zgjedhjet Vendore 2019: Shpërndarja e mandateve për këshillin" (PDF). Central Commission. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.