2025 Albanian local elections
Local elections were held on 9 November 2025 in five municipalities of Albania, following vacancies in local offices. The elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in Albania’s history, at 18.45%.
A [|Tirana mayoral election] had initially been planned but was later cancelled following a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which reinstated the incumbent Erion Veliaj, currently under arrest, as the legitimate Mayor of Tirana. The court annulled his dismissal by the Tirana Municipal Council, the Council of Ministers, and President Bajram Begaj.
Municipal elections
Tirana
On 11 September, the current Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama officially announced Ogerta Manastirliu as his party’s candidate for mayor of Tirana, calling for the dismissal of incumbent Erion Veliaj and a by-election.On 26 September, the Tirana Municipal Council voted to dismiss incumbent mayor Erion Veliaj from office as a result of his seven-month absence due to his arrest.
On 1 October, President Bajram Begaj decreed 9 November 2025 as the date of by-elections in six municipalities following vacancies.
On 2 October, Veliaj’s lawyers filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court against President Begaj’s decree.
On 3 October, Arlind Qori announced his candidacy for mayor with the Together Movement.
On 6 October, the Democratic Party, Freedom Party, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, and other movements agreed to back independent candidate Florjan Binaj.
On 7 October, far-left candidate Marko Dajti announced his candidacy.
On 9 October, the Constitutional Court unanimously decided to refer the case of petitioner Erion Veliaj to a public plenary session on 31 October and to suspend the presidential decree insofar as it sets the date of the elections in the Municipality of Tirana.
On 3 November, the Constitutional Court reinstated the incumbent Erion Veliaj, currently under arrest, as the legitimate Mayor of Tirana. The court annulled his dismissal by the Tirana Municipal Council, the Council of Ministers, and President Bajram Begaj, and consequently, the planned Tirana Mayoral Election was cancelled.
Vlora
On 10th September, mayor Ermal Dredha resigned from his position as mayor of Vlora. He won the municipality by 70.55% in 2023, defeating the Bashkë Fitojmë candidate who got only 29.45%.On 7th October, the Socialist Party selected Brunilda Mersini, an incumbent deputy for the Vlora County, as their candidate. On the same date, the independent candidate backed by the opposition, Dionis Sota announced candidacy.
On 30th October, Gjergji Nika became the third candidate to run for the city after a decision of the Electoral College.
Opinion polls
Tirana
| Polling firm | Ogerta Manastirliu | Florjan Binaj | Arlind Qori | Marko Dajti | Lead | ||
| Polling firm | Lead | ||||||
| Notosondaggi + News24 Albania | 2528 October 2025 | — | 42%46% | 40%44% | 11.5%13.5% | 0.5%2.5% | 2.0% |