2019 Albanian local elections


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

Background

Following 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.
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, 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

Following 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.
NumberPartyAcronymChairmanCoalition
1Fryma e Re DemokratikeFRDBamir Topi–
2Partia Demokracia e Re EuropianePDREKoci TahiriShpresa për Ndryshim
3Partia Balli Kombëtar ShqiptarPBKAdriatik AlimadhiShpresa për Ndryshim
4Partia Bashkimi Liberal DemokratBLDArian StarovaShpresa për Ndryshim
5Aleanca Kuq e ZiAKLumturi RatkoceriShpresa për Ndryshim
6Partia Ora e ShqiperisePOSHZef ShtjefniShpresa për Ndryshim
7Partia Emigracionit ShqiptarPESHKostaq PapaShpresa për Ndryshim
8Partia Komuniste e ShqipërisëPKSHQemal Cicollari–
9Partia Personat me Aftesi te KufizuarPPAKGjovalin Shqalshi–
10Aleanca për Barazi dhe Drejtësi EuropianeABDEValentino MustakaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
11Partia Aleanca Arbnore KombetareAAKGjet NdojAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
12Partia Demokracia Sociale e ShqipërisëPDSPaskal MiloAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
13[Christian Democratic Party of Albania|Democratic Party of Albania|Partia Kristian Demokrate e Shqipërisë]PKDDhimiter MusliaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
14Partia Lëvizja Punëtore ShqiptarePLPSHGenc SakajAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
15Partia e Pajtimit Kombëtar ShqiptarPPKSpartak DobiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
16Partia e Gjelbër e ShqipërisëPGJEdlir PetanajAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
17Partia G99G99Redi ShtinoAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
18Partia e Reformave Demokratike ShqiptarePRDSHKrenar RryçiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
19Partia Aleanca DemokristianeADKZef BushatiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
20Partia Socialpunëtore ShqiptarePSPRamadan NdrekaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
21Partia Aleanca për Demokraci dhe SolidaritetADSGaqo ApostoliAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
22Partia për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave të Emigrantëve e ShqipërisëPMDEYmer KurtiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
23Partia Demokrate Per Integrim e ProsperitetPDIPKujtim MucaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
24Partia Aleanca DemokratikeADEduart AbaziAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
25Partia Socialiste e ModeruarPSMGjergj KojaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
26Partia Ardhmëria ShqiptarePASHEmin SubashiAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
27Partia e Unitetit Kombëtar ShqipëtarPUKIdajet BeqiriAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
28Partia Socialdemokrate e ShqipërisëPSDEngjell BejtajAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
29Partia e të Drejtave të MohuaraPDMIlir VataAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
30Partia Socialiste e ShqipërisëPSEdi RamaAleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane
31Partia Aleanca Maqedonase për Integrimin EuropianAMIEEdmond Themelko–
32Partia për Mbrojtjen e të Drejtave të PunëtorëvePMDPSHKadri Isufaj–
33Partia Kombetare KonservatorePKKAKujtim Gjuzi–
34Partia per Liri Demokraci dhe EtikeLDEArian Galdini–
35Raporti i auditimit për Partia Minoriteti Etnik Grek për të ArdhmenMEGAKristo Kiço–
36Partia Bindja DemokratikeBDAstrit Patozi–

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.
Shkodër and Finiq remained led by the opposition, despite boycotts. Other municipalities returned a majority for the Socialist Party. 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%. The elections were declared as a farce by leader of the opposition Lulzim Basha at the time.
Shkodër was handed back to Voltana Ademi following a trial against the official winner who was suspected to have been involved in trafficking.
CountyMunicipalityCouncil SeatsVote Share PS
ASHE Seats
Other parties and independent candidatesWinner
BeratBerat3190.79 %30 1Socialist Party
BeratKuçova3182.28 %31 0Socialist Party
BeratPoliçan1587.07 %15 0Socialist Party
BeratSkrapar1585.32 %14 1Socialist Party
BeratUra Vajgurore2174.34 %21 0Socialist Party
DibërBulqizë2133.55 %20 1Socialist Party
DibërDibër3145.72 %29 2Socialist Party
DibërKlos2128.26 %21 0Socialist Party
DibërMat2151.69 %21 0Socialist Party
DurrësDurrës5187.13 %50 1Socialist Party
DurrësKrujë3169.37 %31 0Socialist Party
DurrësShijak2173.76 %20 1Socialist Party
ElbasanBelsh2180.14 %20 1Socialist Party
ElbasanCërrik2188.13 %21 0Socialist Party
ElbasanElbasan5180.43 %49 2Socialist Party
ElbasanGramsh2147.74 %21 0Socialist Party
ElbasanLibrazhd2154.21 %18 3Socialist Party
ElbasanPeqin2184.85 %21 0Socialist Party
ElbasanPërrenjas2164.45 %21 0Socialist Party
FierDivjakë3181.95 %31 0Socialist Party
FierFier5191.19 %51 0Socialist Party
FierLushnjë4183.08 %40 1Socialist Party
FierMallakastër2164.74 %21 0Socialist Party
FierPatos2189.82 %21 0Socialist Party
FierRoskovec2192.06 %21 0Socialist Party
GjirokastërDropull2176.99 %18 3Socialist Party
GjirokastërGjirokastër3163.09 %30 1Socialist Party
GjirokastërKëlcyra1522.78 %13 2Socialist Party
GjirokastërLibohovë1573.63 %14 1Socialist Party
GjirokastërMemaliaj2177.76 %21 0Socialist Party
GjirokastërPërmet1544.17 %15 0Socialist Party
GjirokastërTepelena1580.21 %15 0Socialist Party
KorçëDevoll2168.54 %21 0Socialist Party
KorçëKolonja1560.74 %15 0Socialist Party
KorçëKorça4176.94 %39 2Socialist Party
KorçëMaliq3182.34 %31 0Socialist Party
KorçëPogradec3162.06 %30 1Socialist Party
KorçëPustec1543.04 %11 4Socialist Party
KukësHas2122.4 %20 1Socialist Party
KukësKukës3124.17 %27 4Socialist Party
KukësTropojë2131.31 %21 0Socialist Party
LezhëKurbin3154.28 %28 3Socialist Party
LezhëLezhë4135.27 %30 1Socialist Party
LezhëMirditë2124.77 %21 0Socialist Party
ShkodërFushë-Arrëz1532.27 %13 2Socialist Party
ShkodërMalësia e Madhe3134.56 %26 5Socialist Party
ShkodërPukë1527.66 %15 0Socialist Party
ShkodërShkodër5175.83 %51 0Socialist Party
ShkodërVau i Dejës3143.99 %31 0Socialist Party
TiranaKamëz4187.61 %40 1Socialist Party
TiranaKavajë3194.36 %31 0Socialist Party
TiranaRrogozhinë2193.94 %21 0Socialist Party
TiranaTirana6185.82 %59 2Socialist Party
TiranaVorë2182.43 %20 1Socialist Party
VlorëDelvinë15100.0 %15 0Socialist Party
VlorëFiniq2134.49 %12 9MEGA
VlorëHimarë2163.82 %20 1Socialist Party
VlorëKonispol15100.0 %15 0Socialist Party
VlorëSarandë3168.09 %27 4Socialist Party
VlorëSelenicë2166.41 %21 0Socialist Party
VlorëVlorë5186.65 %49 2Socialist Party

By-elections of March 2022

After the results of the 2019 elections, by-elections were announced on March 6, 2022, as at the time there was no elected mayor in Vorë, Dibër, Shkodër, Lushnjë, Rrogozhine and Durrës. Several candidates that had been elected in June 2019 had not taken office either due to their death, or they had been arrested on corruption charges.
Between the 2019 elections and the March 2022 by-elections, Sali Berisha had been expelled from the PD by the party's leadership. However, he had previously personally conducted a party congress in which participants had deposed the party leadership of Lulzim Basha.
In the partial elections of the aforementioned six municipalities, a candidate from the Democratic Party and a Berisha candidate ran alongside a candidate from the Socialist Party. The Berisha loyalist candidates ran under the coalition name Shtëpia e Lirisë. In all communities, House of Freedom candidates received significantly more votes than the official PD representatives. Berisha's candidate managed to win in Shkodër, while the rest of the municipalities were won by the Socialist Party.
In the three voting stations of Bruçaj, Ndrejaj and Palaj, small villages in the northern mountains of Albania, elections were not held due to bad weather from heavy snowfall causing power cuts.