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On May 11, voters in Albania will head to the polls for the country’s general elections, marking a significant political moment. With 53 political parties participating, this year’s elections stand out due to the sharp increase in the number of parties, resulting in a larger-than-usual ballot size of 59 cm x 42 cm.
A total of 3.7 million eligible voters, including those abroad, will cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
A key shift in this year’s elections is the noticeable pro-Türkiye rhetoric among several candidates. Albania-Türkiye relations have been important historically, but this year’s election features a marked change in how political figures are publicly speaking about Türkiye.
This shift is particularly evident among candidates from the newly formed Europe-Atlantic Democrats party, led by former opposition leader Lulzim Basha.
Basha’s party has gained attention not just for its vote share but for the profiles of its candidates. Many candidates from the party have conservative views and openly express admiration for Türkiye, signaling a shift toward a more direct and public alignment with Türkiye in Albanian politics.
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One of the most notable candidates is Pellumb Seferi, a well-respected politician known for his conservative views and support for Türkiye.
Seferi, who is respected by local voters, made headlines by being the only candidate to release a condolence message after the recent earthquake in Istanbul. "The future of Albania lies in maintaining relationships with traditional allies, especially Türkiye," Seferi said, underlining the importance of Albania-Türkiye relations.
Another prominent figure is Huseyin (Hysejin) Xhura, who has strong ties to Türkiye through his relationship with Abdullah Tatlici, the Balkans coordinator for the International Development and Cooperation Association (UKID). Xhura is known for his conservative values and his close ties with Türkiye, gaining attention within the Albanian political scene.
Egert Haxhiu, a candidate who was educated in Türkiye and is the head of the Türkiye Alumni Association of Albania, is another significant figure. Haxhiu is well-known for his anti-FETO stance and his support for Palestine, further solidifying his pro-Türkiye stance.
These candidacies suggest a shift in Albania’s political strategy, with Türkiye becoming a more central theme in the political discourse.
Politicians who previously rarely praised Türkiye now openly express admiration for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Türkiye’s policies. This shift represents a broader change in political attitudes, with strategic partnerships taking precedence over previous antagonism toward Türkiye.
The increased visibility of pro-Türkiye candidates in the election highlights the changing dynamics in Albania’s political landscape, suggesting that Albania’s regional positioning is evolving. In addition to the pro-Türkiye discourse, the 2025 elections will also see an increase in participation from Albania’s diaspora. For the first time, Albanian citizens living abroad will be able to vote. Over 114,000 young voters will also participate in these elections, marking a historic moment for Albania’s electoral process.
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