Albania enters election silence ahead of May 11 parliamentary vote
Albania entered a 24-hour election silence on Saturday, marking the end of a month-long campaign ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Political parties and candidates are now barred from any further campaigning or appeals to voters.
Why is this important: The May 11 elections will determine the makeup of Albania’s next parliament, with 140 seats up for grabs. A total of 2,046 candidates are competing, with the electorate numbering over 3.7 million. For the first time, Albanian citizens living abroad have been allowed to vote remotely—a significant expansion of voting rights. Additionally, the election will be held under a hybrid system combining closed and open lists.
Context: According to official data, 3,713,000 citizens are eligible to vote, including around 246,000 who have registered to vote from abroad. Approximately 115,000 citizens will be voting for the first time. Across the country, 5,225 polling stations will be open for Sunday’s vote.
This is the 11th parliamentary election since the fall of communism in Albania. The inclusion of diaspora voters and the mixed list format represent the most notable procedural changes. The final day of the campaign on Friday saw major rallies from the leading parties, while Saturday is reserved for quiet reflection ahead of the vote.
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