Albanians began voting in parliamentary elections on Sunday amid an unprecedented bid by Prime Minister Edi Rama to win a fourth term after a campaign dominated by promises to join the European Union and allegations of corruption.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and will close at 7 p.m. Results are expected on Monday.
Rama, who has been in power as head of the Socialist Party since 2013, is the favourite to defeat his long-time rival, former Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party, who is partly aided by influential connections built up during his 12 years in power, a recent period of healthy economic growth and high popularity abroad.
But last year, Rama’s opposition grew due to alleged repression against the opposition, including Berisha, while Rama himself survived a series of scandals. These include the arrest of his ally, Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, this year on charges of corruption and money laundering. Veliaj and Berisha deny any wrongdoing.
Many young voters are particularly tired of people like Berisha and Rama, who have ruled the country in various positions since the fall of communism in 1990. They point to the stark income inequality in Albania, which has led to many people driving expensive Range Rovers around the capital Tirana while others live in cramped Soviet-era houses.
Polls show Rama with more than 40% of the vote, well ahead of Berisha, who has been weakened by allegations of corruption. But he may need the help of smaller parties to retain a narrow majority of four seats in the 140-seat chamber of deputies.
