Albania Country Profile
General Information
Official Name: Republic of Albania (Republika e Shqipërisë)
Capital: Tirana
Population: Approximately 2.79 million (2024)
Official Language: Albanian
Currency: Albanian Lek (ALL)
Geographic Location: Southeastern Europe, bordered by Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece, with coastlines along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
Total Area: 28,748 square kilometers
Political Context
Government Type: Albania is a parliamentary republic. It has a multi-party system with regular elections and separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
President: The President is the ceremonial head of state and serves a five-year term. The role focuses on representing the unity of the Albanian people, though it has limited executive functions.
Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the head of government and holds most executive powers, responsible for managing the country's administration.
Albania is a candidate for EU membership, with ongoing reforms in governance, judicial independence, and anti-corruption efforts as part of the accession process.
Political Parties
Albania’s political landscape is dominated by two main parties and few smaller ones.
Socialist Party of Albania (PS): Center-left, currently the ruling party, focusing on social welfare, economic reforms, and EU integration.
Democratic Party of Albania (PD): Center-right, the main opposition party, promoting free-market reforms, anti-corruption measures, and transparency.
Parliamentary Structure
Albania has a unicameral parliamentary system:
Kuvendi (Assembly): Consists of 140 members elected for four-year terms through a proportional representation system. Elections are held every four years.
Hierarchy in the State
President: Bajram Begaj (since July 2022)
Role: Ceremonial head of state, elected by the Assembly for a five-year term.
Prime Minister: Edi Rama (Socialist Party, since 2013)
Role: Head of government and holds executive power.
Deputy Prime Minister: Belinda Balluku (since 2021)
Role: Assists the Prime Minister and manages key government portfolios.
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs: Igli Hasani (since 2023)
Role: Oversees Albania's foreign policy, particularly EU accession efforts.
Minister of Interior: Bledar Çuçi (since 2020)
Role: Responsible for internal security, law enforcement, and border control.
Table / Timeline of Elections
Election Type Last Held Next Scheduled Details
Parliamentary Election April 25, 2021 2025 The Socialist Party won a majority with 74 of 140 seats, securing Prime Minister Edi Rama’s third term.
Presidential Election June 4, 2022 2027 The President is elected by parliament for a five-year term. Bajram Begaj was elected by the Assembly.
Way of Voting
Parliamentary Elections: Albania uses a proportional representation system with closed-party lists.
Voter Eligibility: Citizens aged 18 and above can vote. Voting is mandatory. The electoral threshold for parties is 1% at the national level, and 3% for coalitions.
Last Election Results
Parliamentary Elections (April 25, 2021):
Prime Minister: Edi Rama (Socialist Party)
The Socialist Party won 74 of 140 seats, ensuring a majority.
Opposition: The Democratic Party (PD) won 59 seats.
Key Outcome: The elections confirmed Edi Rama’s third term as Prime Minister.
Economic Context
GDP: $25.43 billion (2024)
GDP Per Capita: Approximately $8,920
Main Economic Sectors: Agriculture, energy, services, manufacturing, and tourism.
Tourism: Rapidly growing, especially along the Adriatic and Ionian coastlines.
Challenges: High unemployment rates, corruption, and slow progress in judicial reforms affecting EU accession.
International Political Context
U Accession: Albania has been an EU candidate country since 2014. Official negotiations for accession began in 2022. Reforms in the judiciary, anti-corruption, and public administration are priorities for aligning with EU standards.
NATO Membership: Albania has been a NATO member since 2009, and its foreign policy aligns with the EU and NATO.
Relations with Neighbors: Albania maintains positive relations with its Western Balkan neighbours and plays an active role in regional cooperation through organizations such as the Berlin Process and CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement).
