Construction worker puts Lapaj’s parliamentary bid at risk amid list confusion

Opposition leader Adriatik Lapaj’s chances of entering Albania’s next Parliament are in question after a low-profile candidate from his own electoral list—Zeqir Kordhoni, a former construction worker and invalid pensioner—signaled he may not withdraw his name as previously expected. Kordhoni’s hesitation threatens to derail Lapaj’s path to a seat in Tirana, where he emerged as the most-voted open-list candidate for the “Nisma Shqipëria Bëhet” (NShB) coalition.

Why is this important: In a cynical effort to portray its leaders as different from those of the traditional parties, NShB placed them in the open candidate list. However, as this case is revealing NShB had filled its closed candidate list in Tirana with twelve so-called “placeholder” names expected to forgo their mandates, clearing the way for the party leader Lapaj to take the seat as the leader and most-voted figure. According to the coalition’s plan, these names—including Kordhoni—signed preemptive resignations after the May 11 elections. However, the process now faces legal and logistical uncertainty as at least one of those candidates appears to be reconsidering his decision, underscoring the fragility of such political maneuvers and the lack of legal safeguards around candidate withdrawals.

Context: Officially, the NSHB seat in Tirana belongs to Ana Dajko—the first name on the closed list. But with Lapaj receiving the highest number of votes among open-list candidates, the plan was for Dajko and the 11 others to step aside. Yet, as Report TV has learned, Zeqir Kordhoni—ranked ninth on the list—has written to the Central Election Commission (KQZ), referring to himself as “a deputy” and requesting a copy of his resignation form.

Kordhoni told Report TV he doesn’t clearly remember signing a mandate refusal and now wants a one-on-one meeting with Lapaj. “I’ve signed a lot of papers back then. I don’t recall exactly if I signed to give up the mandate,” he said. “But if Adriatik wants to go to Parliament, he’ll have to go through me first.”

Kordhoni says he was proposed by Nisma Thurje and emphasizes his personal struggles. “I worked 72 hours straight without going home. I’m also an invalid,” he added, noting that he’s not sure what he’ll ultimately decide.

Although Report TV obtained a signed form dated May 11 with Kordhoni’s name, it does not appear to have been notarized or witnessed by an official. According to KQZ sources, candidates are allowed to change their minds and claim their mandate up until the moment the final list of elected MPs is officially declared by State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi.

What’s next: Mandates for Tirana have not yet been certified, as the Democratic Party is challenging the results in the Electoral College. But for Lapaj, the immediate challenge is political—not legal. He must ensure all 12 placeholder candidates, including Kordhoni, maintain their agreement to step aside, or risk losing the seat altogether.

The case reveals a loophole in Albania’s electoral design, where strategic candidacies and informal withdrawals can backfire—especially when they hinge on fragile personal assurances rather than formal legal commitments.