Rama urges Albanian diaspora in Greece to return ballots before May 11
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again called on Albanian migrants in Greece to return their ballots before the May 11 deadline, emphasizing that this vote is not just about electing a government but about empowering Albania’s European future.
Why is this important: Greece has the second-largest Albanian voting population abroad, with over 68,000 registered voters. But just days before the election, only a fraction of those ballots have been returned. If they don’t arrive by 19:00 on election day, they won’t be counted—potentially disenfranchising thousands and impacting the legitimacy of Albania’s first-ever out-of-country voting process.
Context: In a video message posted on Facebook, Rama urged registered voters in Greece—the country with the highest number of Albanian diaspora voters after Italy—to take immediate action and ensure their ballots are returned to Albania in time to be counted.
“This is a historic moment. On May 11, you’re not just voting for who will govern for the next four years. You are deciding how much power to give Albania to close EU accession negotiations by 2027 and become a full member by 2030,” Rama said.
Addressing delays and confusion with DHL postal deliveries in Greece, Rama acknowledged some improvement in recent days but warned that many envelopes were still pending. “Thank you to those who already acted, but there are still many envelopes out there. They must be returned to become part of the great red-and-black wave that will overturn the ballot boxes on May 11.”
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