Three violent incidents involving Democratic Party candidates raise alarm during Albanian election campaign

Three separate violent incidents involving Democratic Party (DP) parliamentary candidates have occurred within the span of a single week. Each case involved direct physical confrontation or threats of violence, with sitting MPs and candidates personally implicated.

Why is this important: While tensions are not uncommon during election season, the repeated involvement of candidates in physical altercations has added strain to an already charged political climate. These incidents are prompting calls for greater accountability and reinforcing the need for restraint from all sides as election day approaches.

Case 1: The first incident took place in Dibra, where the current DPD Member of Parliament and political coordinator for the district was involved in an altercation with a local government employee. The MP, accompanied by his nephew, reportedly punched the civil servant. The incident was recorded and widely circulated on social media.

The MP denied striking the victim himself, claiming his nephew was responsible. Nonetheless, the footage shows the MP present and physically involved during the confrontation.

Case 2: The most serious case occurred over the weekend in Devoll, where another DP deputy—also running for re-election—allegedly assaulted a truck driver in the middle of the road. According to police reports, the deputy and his brother stopped the driver and attacked him after a dispute over speeding.

The deputy’s brother was arrested, but due to parliamentary immunity, no legal action was taken against the MP himself. The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for reforms to limit immunity in such cases.

Case 3: The third case happened on Monday in Lezhë, where a candidate from the ruling Socialist Party filed a police report alleging she was threatened with a firearm by opposition candidates and the father of one of them. The candidate claims they threatened to abduct her.

The opposition candidate in question, who has a history of legal issues related to corruption, responded by stating that their group had established a “vote protection structure”—a controversial practice revived from the 2021 elections.

Flashback: The term “vote protection structure” carries heavy political baggage in Albania. In the 2021 parliamentary elections, similar opposition structures were implicated in the Elbasan shooting, where a Socialist Party supporter was killed, and a police officer was injured during a clash with opposition activists claiming to “defend the vote.”

The return of this language—and behavior—during the 2025 campaign has fueled fears that election tensions could again escalate into violence.

What’s next: With less than a week until the vote, political observers warn that these incidents risk creating tensions and undermining public trust in the electoral process. Calls are growing for prosecutors and the Central Election Commission to investigate whether any candidates should face disciplinary or legal consequences—even in cases where parliamentary immunity applies.