McLaughlin poll for Top Channel: Socialists maintain strong lead ahead of May 11 elections
A new poll conducted by the U.S.-based firm McLaughlin & Associates and published exclusively by Top Story on Top Channel shows the Socialist Party (PS) maintaining a commanding lead in Albania’s upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for May 11. The poll was conducted over the last two weeks in April.
Why is this important: The results suggest a likely landslide victory for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party. This margin, if reflected at the ballot box, could reinforce the Socialists’ control of parliament and diminish the prospects for a power shift.
Context: In the second nationwide poll conducted by the American firm McLaughlin & Associates for Top Channel during the last two weeks of April 2025, voters were asked: “Regardless of how you voted in April 2021, if parliamentary elections were held today, which party would you vote for?” The results show the ruling Socialist Party (PS) maintaining a wide lead over the Democratic Party (PD), with smaller parties drawing minimal support. The findings offer a snapshot of public opinion ahead of the May 11 elections, confirming the PS’s dominant position and the PD’s continued struggle to close the gap.
- Socialist Party (PS): 48.9%
- Democratic Party (PD): 34.4%
- Mundësia Movement (The Opportunity): 5%
- Nisma Shqipëria Bëhet (Initiative ‘Albania is Made’): 4.2%
- Social Democratic Party (PSD): 2.9%
- Lëvizja Bashkë (Together Movement): 1.1%
- Euro-Atlantic Coalition: 0.9%
- Other parties: 0.4%
- Undecided/Refused to answer: 2.2%
Comparison with previous survey: In the first McLaughlin poll conducted earlier in April, the PS had 49.2%, while the PD stood at 35.7%. The latest results show a slight dip for both major parties, but the Socialist Party retains a double-digit lead.
The data indicate that smaller parties like “Mundësia” and “Shqipëria Bëhet” are emerging with modest support, but not enough to seriously challenge the two dominant forces. The group of undecided voters has also slightly declined, suggesting increasing clarity as the election nears.
What’s next: With less than two weeks to go, the Socialist Party enters the final stretch of the campaign with a significant advantage. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party continues to struggle with internal divisions, credibility issues, and the fallout from its controversial $6 million lobbying contract in the U.S.
If the trend holds, the PS could solidify its grip on power for another term, while the opposition faces further fragmentation and diminishing influence.
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