Democrats grant 7 safe seats to allies as coalition negotiations continue
At the final stretch before the March 3 deadline for coalition registration, the Democratic Party (DP) is working to finalize agreements with its traditional allies to present a united front in the May 11 elections. While PD leader Sali Berisha has refused to disclose details publicly, Top Channel has learned that significant progress has been made in securing coalition partners.
Why is this important: With the upcoming elections shaping up to be highly competitive, securing alliances is critical for opposition parties. The DP’s coalition strategy focuses on consolidating support among smaller parties to increase its electoral strength. However, while securing the support of its allies is positive, it remains to be seen what impact this agreement will have on DP internally. The competition for safe spots on the candidate list is already fierce within DP, with the first defections from local branches already being reported. The fact that at least 7 seats will go to allies, whose electorate in some cases is almost non-existent while many aspiring Democrats will be left out, is not expected to go down well.
Context: Discussions with former president Ilir Meta’s Freedom Party (PL) initially centered on securing 6-7 guaranteed seats, but the final agreement grants PL four safe spots, including Ilir Meta himself who is currently in pre-trial detention.
Additional PL candidates will be included in the open list, where their election prospects will depend on voter support.
Negotiations with the Agrarian Party were apparently less complex and resulted in one guaranteed seat in Durrës. Meanwhile, two other allies, whose parties are almost fictional, will be placed in a secure position on the Vlorë and Tirana lists.
The final unresolved issue remains the negotiations with Party for Justice and Integration (PDIU) which has requested two safe seats, but PD is currently only willing to allocate one.
What’s next: The March 3 deadline for coalition registration is fast approaching, and parties must submit their final lists to the Central Election Commission (KQZ). With most agreements settled, the outcome of DP’s talks with PDIU remains the final uncertainty.
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