Albanian opposition rejects May 11 elections, launches protest during EPC Summit

On the same day European leaders gathered in Tirana for the European Political Community Summit, Albania’s opposition began its protest campaign, rejecting the results of the May 11 parliamentary elections.

The first protest was held Friday in Tirana, just as the city hosted 51 European leaders. Democratic Party figures close to Berisha claim the elections were rigged and have vowed to challenge their legitimacy.

Why is this important: Berisha’s landslide defeat was no surprise. Every major poll for months predicted it. His party’s closed and tightly controlled candidate list — stacked with loyalists — was widely seen as a list designed to keep Berisha safe at the helm of DP in case of loss. Yet, despite the overwhelming pre-election data and the outcome confirming it, Berisha is now claiming electoral manipulation. He has provided no evidence, and his narrative is widely viewed as a tactic to cling to the party’s leadership power rather than face accountability.

Context: Friday’s protest drew a very small number of opposition supporters — a reflection not only of the May 11 electoral rejection of the party led by 81-year-old Berisha, who has headed the party since January 1991, but also of the fact that even many of those who did vote for him are unwilling to follow a post-election narrative seen as a personal alibi to avoid resignation.

A dangerous precedent was also set at the protest. Protesters and MPs assaulted members of the media simply because journalists asked Berisha supporters and newly elected MPs whether Berisha should resign as party leader.

Media backlash: The confrontation sparked swift and unanimous condemnation from all national media organizations. They denounced the verbal abuse and intimidation directed at journalists as unacceptable and threatening to press freedom.

Allegations of fraud: The opposition now claims it is collecting evidence of electoral manipulation to present to European chancelleries, the U.S. Senate, and Congress. Its stated goal: to convince international actors not to recognize the outcome of the May 11 parliamentary elections, which it labels an “electoral massacre.”

No national or international institution has so far echoed these allegations and a growing chorus of representatives of DP are already dismissing these claims and calling on Berisha to resign.