On May 11, Albania will hold its first parliamentary election since the country formally opened accession negotiations with the European Union in July 2022.

Prime Minister Edi Rama and his ruling Socialist Party (SP) are both aiming for an historic fourth term. Meanwhile, the opposition remains fragmented, with the Democratic Party (DP) as the second-strongest political force, followed by a range of smaller political parties and movements.

The upcoming vote is widely regarded as a decisive moment for Albania's democratic trajectory, its commitment to fighting corruption and its long-standing aspiration to join the EU.

A total of 3.7 million Albanian citizens are eligible to elect 140 members of parliament — with the Albanian diaspora participating in the ballot for the first time.

The Socialist Party launched its election campaign at midday on April 12, a moment laden with symbolism.

The kick-off event in Skanderbeg Square featured a stage designed to resemble the EU flag with 12 stars, underscoring the party's central message, namely that EU integration remains its core political objective. The party's campaign slogan — "Albania 2030 in the EU" — further underpins this message.

"Only we hold Albania's European future in our hands," declared Prime Minister Rama, urging voters to support the SP, who he says is the only political force capable of achieving EU membership.

But political analysts argue that membership of the EU is primarily a technical process based on candidate countries meeting specific criteria set by........

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