Government of Albania

Politics of Albania
Constitution Human rights
Executive President: Bajram Begaj (list) Prime Minister: Edi Rama (list) Deputy Prime Minister: Albana Koçiu (list) Cabinet
Legislature Parliament Speaker: Niko Peleshi (list) Committees Members Leader of the Opposition
Judiciary Constitutional Court Administrative Court Court of Justice (ordinary jurisdiction) Supreme Court
Administrative divisions Counties Municipalities Cities Villages
Elections Recent elections Presidential 2012 2017 2022 Parliamentary 2021 2025 Next Local 2015 2019 2023 Referendums 1994 1997 1998 Political parties Parliamentary PD PS PL PDIU PSD PR PBDNJ PM DJATHTAS PAA LZhK PLL KEA
Foreign relations Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister: Ferit Hoxha Diplomatic missions of / in Albania Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Albania

Albania is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic, in which the president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers, led by the prime minister, while legislative power is vested in the unicameral Parliament of Albania (Kuvendi). The 1998 constitution provides for the separation of powers, an independent judiciary, fundamental rights, and a multi-party electoral system.^[1]

Since the end of communist one-party rule in 1991, Albanian politics has been dominated by the Socialist Party of Albania (PS), the successor to the former Party of Labour of Albania, and the Democratic Party of Albania (PD), the first major anti-communist opposition party. The Socialist Party has governed since the 2013 parliamentary election under Edi Rama, winning further parliamentary elections in 2017, 2021 and 2025. In the 2025 election, the PS won 83 of 140 seats, while the PD-led Democratic Party–Alliance for a Greater Albania won 50 seats.^[2]

Albania is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe and NATO, and is a candidate country for accession to the European Union. EU accession is one of the central objectives of Albanian foreign policy. In November 2025, the European Union opened negotiations with Albania on the last remaining accession cluster, Cluster 5, covering resources, agriculture and cohesion.^[3]

International assessments describe Albania as an electoral democracy with continuing governance problems. Freedom House rated Albania as "Partly Free" in 2026 and stated that elections are competitive, but that political parties are highly polarized and often organized around leading personalities, while corruption and bribery remain major problems.^[4] Transparency International gave Albania a score of 39 out of 100 and ranked it 91st of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.^[5]

Constitutional framework

The current constitution was adopted by referendum and entered into force in November 1998. It replaced the transitional constitutional framework used after the collapse of the communist state and established Albania as a parliamentary republic. The constitution defines Albania as a unitary state, guarantees political pluralism and sets out the powers of the president, parliament, government, courts and independent institutions.^[1]

Historically, Albania has had several constitutional systems. It was proclaimed independent in 1912, recognized as a principality in 1913, became a republic in 1925 and a monarchy in 1928. After occupation by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany during the Second World War, Albania became a communist one-party state in 1946. Multi-party politics returned in 1991, followed by a prolonged transition marked by institutional instability, the 1997 collapse of pyramid schemes, and later constitutional and judicial reforms.^[6]

Executive

Since the Declaration of Independence in 1912, Albania has experienced different models of governance, including an international protectorate, a monarchy, a one-party state and the present parliamentary republic. During these periods, the function of the head of state has been exercised in different forms.

The president (Presidenti) is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the Albanian Armed Forces and representative of the unity of the Albanian people.^[1] The president is elected by the Parliament for a five-year term and may serve no more than two terms. The officeholder promulgates laws, appoints the prime minister on the basis of the parliamentary majority, and may exercise other powers set out in the constitution. Since 24 July 2022, the office has been held by Bajram Begaj, a former chief of the general staff of the Albanian Armed Forces.^[7]

The prime minister (Kryeministri) is the head of government and the dominant figure in the executive branch. The prime minister is appointed by the president after parliamentary elections and must retain the confidence of parliament. The prime minister leads the Council of Ministers, directs the general policy of the government, and coordinates the work of ministries and other executive bodies.^[1] In the absence of the prime minister, the deputy prime minister may take over functions such as chairing meetings of the Council of Ministers.

Edi Rama has served as prime minister since 2013, making him the longest-serving head of government in post-communist Albania. After the Socialist Party's 2025 victory, the Rama IV Government was formed in September 2025. In March 2026, Rama reshuffled the cabinet after Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku was dismissed amid a corruption investigation; she denied wrongdoing.^[9]

Legislative branch

The Parliament of Albania (Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) is a unicameral legislature with 140 members elected for four-year terms on the basis of direct, universal, periodic and equal suffrage by secret ballot. It passes laws, approves the government, ratifies treaties, adopts the budget and exercises parliamentary oversight. The parliament also elects the president and the heads or members of several independent institutions, according to procedures set out in the constitution and organic laws.^[1]

The oldest Albanian assembly with extant records was held on 2 March 1444 in Lezhë, under Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, as an alliance against the Ottoman Empire.^[10] In the modern republic, the first session of a newly elected parliament must be held no later than 20 days after the completion of elections.^[1] Extraordinary sessions may be called by the president, the speaker of parliament, the prime minister, or one fifth of members of parliament. Decisions are generally made by majority vote when more than half of members are present, except where the constitution provides for a special majority.

The current legislature was elected in the 2025 Albanian parliamentary election and first convened on 12 September 2025. Niko Peleshi of the Socialist Party was elected speaker of parliament on the same date.^[11] The Socialist Party holds a majority with 83 seats. The largest opposition grouping is the Democratic Party-led Alliance for a Greater Albania, with 50 seats.^[2]

Parliamentary politics has often been polarized. Opposition parties have at different times boycotted parliament, resigned mandates, disrupted sessions or organized street protests, while governments have been accused by opponents of concentrating power and weakening checks and balances. In December 2025, opposition lawmakers disrupted a parliamentary session during protests over election fraud allegations and corruption investigations, including the Balluku case.^[12]

Judiciary and rule of law

Albania follows the civil-law tradition. Its court system includes the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, courts of appeal, first-instance courts, administrative courts, and a special jurisdiction for corruption and organized crime. The constitution states that the judiciary is independent, but judicial reform has been a central issue in Albanian politics and in the country's EU accession process.^[1]

The judicial branch is generally divided into highest courts, intermediate courts and first-instance courts. The highest courts include the Supreme Court (Gjykata e Lartë) and the Constitutional Court (Gjykata Kushtetuese). Intermediate courts include the general courts of appeal, the Administrative Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeals against Corruption and Organized Crime. First-instance courts include courts of general jurisdiction, administrative courts and the Court of First Instance against Corruption and Organized Crime.

The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal. Its hearings are generally public, except in cases where privacy or other legally protected interests require restrictions. It is composed of the president of the court and other judges appointed according to constitutional and legal procedures. The Constitutional Court is the final authority for the interpretation of the constitution and for reviewing the constitutionality of laws and other normative acts.

A major justice reform launched in 2016 created a vetting process for judges and prosecutors and strengthened anti-corruption institutions. The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), consisting of the Special Prosecution Office and special courts, has investigated high-level corruption and organized crime cases. Freedom House has noted that corruption remains a major problem, while also recognizing efforts to address corruption in the judiciary.^[4]

SPAK investigations have affected both the ruling party and opposition. Senior Socialist officials and former ministers have been investigated or prosecuted in cases involving public procurement and concessions, while Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has faced corruption charges and was designated by the United States in 2021 for alleged involvement in significant corruption; Berisha denies wrongdoing.^[4][13]

Elections

Following the collapse of the communist regime, Albania held its first multi-party parliamentary elections in 1991.^[14] The constitution guarantees universal, equal, free and secret suffrage, and every Albanian citizen who has reached the age of 18 has the right to vote unless deprived of that right by law.^[1] Elections are held for parliament, mayors and municipal councils. The president is elected indirectly by parliament.

Parliamentary elections use proportional representation in multi-member constituencies corresponding to Albania's 12 counties. The 2024 amendments to the electoral code introduced voting from abroad and a mixed candidate-list system, with a closed part of party lists and an open, preferential-vote component for other candidates.^[15] Local elections are held every four years for mayors and municipal councils in the country's 61 municipalities.

The 2025 Albanian parliamentary election was held on 11 May 2025. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, voter turnout was 44.8 percent, the Socialist Party increased its representation from 74 to 83 seats, and the Democratic Party-led Alliance for a Greater Albania won 50 seats.^[2] It was the first parliamentary election in which Albanians abroad were able to vote by mail; approximately 195,000 diaspora voters mailed ballots.^[2]

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights concluded that the 2025 elections were competitive and professionally managed, but took place in a highly polarized environment and that contestants did not enjoy a level playing field. ODIHR cited reports of intimidation, misuse of public resources, pressure on public employees, vote-buying, procedural shortcomings and problems with ballot secrecy.^[16]

Political parties

Albania has a multi-party system, but national politics has been dominated since the 1990s by the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party. The party system is highly personalized and polarized, with several smaller parties and coalitions playing roles in parliament, local government and electoral alliances. The current parliamentary representation after the 2025 election is as follows:^[2]

Democracy, corruption and media freedom

Albania's democratic institutions are formally pluralist, but international monitoring organizations continue to report problems with corruption, politicization, media pressure and weak checks on executive power. Freedom House classified Albania as "Partly Free" in 2026 with a score of 69 out of 100, noting competitive elections but high polarization and persistent corruption.^[4] Transparency International ranked Albania 91st of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.^[5]

Media freedom has also been a recurring issue. Reporters Without Borders ranked Albania 83rd out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, three places lower than in 2025, and stated that Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia remained vulnerable to propaganda and hostile to journalism despite EU aspirations.^[18]

Protest movements and political unrest

Albanian politics has frequently involved street mobilization, including opposition protests, student protests, environmental protests and anti-corruption demonstrations. In 2019, the opposition resigned parliamentary mandates and boycotted local elections, arguing that elections under Rama could not be free and fair. Similar anti-government protests continued during the 2021–2025 legislature and intensified after corruption investigations involving senior officials.

In February 2026, anti-government demonstrators clashed with police near parliament during protests calling for Rama's resignation and accountability in the Balluku public-procurement case.^[19] Rama later dismissed Balluku in a cabinet reshuffle, while opposition parties continued to argue that corruption investigations showed wider problems in the governing system.^[9]

In 2026, large demonstrations known as the Flamingo Revolution emerged after opposition to a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner near protected coastal areas, including the Vjosa–Nartë Protected Landscape and Sazan Island. The movement quickly broadened from environmental concerns into an anti-government and anti-corruption protest movement. Demonstrators criticized public-land transfers, strategic-investor legislation, alleged oligarchic influence and opaque decision-making, and many called for Rama's resignation.^[20][21] The Financial Times reported on 20 June 2026 that tens of thousands joined one of Albania's largest protests in years and that the movement had become a wider expression of anger over corruption and political elites.^[22]

Rama defended the project, saying it would be developed in accordance with environmental rules and would benefit Albania's tourism and modernization, while dismissing parts of the protest movement as politically or externally motivated.^[23]

Foreign policy

Albanian foreign policy is conducted by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Since the fall of communism, the country's main strategic priorities have been Euro-Atlantic integration, relations with the United States and the European Union, regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, and support for Kosovo's international recognition.

Albania is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and several other international organizations. It maintains diplomatic relations with more than one hundred states and operates a network of diplomatic missions abroad.^[24] Albania maintains close relations with the United States, Italy, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Kosovo and other European and regional partners.

Albania joined NATO in April 2009. Politicians across the main parties have generally treated NATO membership and EU integration as strategic priorities. Albania applied for EU membership in 2009, received candidate status in 2014, and began accession negotiations in 2022. By November 2025, negotiations had been opened on all six accession clusters after the EU opened Cluster 5 on resources, agriculture and cohesion.^[3]

The country's foreign-policy objectives include EU accession, support for Kosovo's international recognition, regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, and the protection of the rights of Albanians in neighboring states and the Albanian diaspora. Albania has participated in regional initiatives such as the Berlin Process and Open Balkan. Open Balkan, promoted by Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia, has been supported by Rama but criticized by some political actors in Albania and Kosovo, who argue that it could weaken Kosovo's position or duplicate EU-backed regional processes.

Administrative divisions

With a total area of 28,748 square kilometres (11,100 square miles), Albania is a unitary state divided into twelve counties (qarqe) and 61 municipalities (bashki). The counties are further subdivided into municipalities. Albania's former 36 districts became defunct as administrative units in 2000.^[25]

The counties were created on 31 July 2000 to replace the former districts.^[26] The current local-government structure was introduced through a territorial-administrative reform implemented in 2015, which abolished the former communes and consolidated local government into larger municipalities.^[27] Defunct communes are now usually administered as administrative units, neighborhoods or villages within municipalities.^[28]

Municipalities are the primary units of local government and are responsible for local services, urban planning, local infrastructure and other municipal functions. Mayors and municipal councils are elected every four years. Counties coordinate regional development and include councils composed of representatives from municipalities.

Berat Dibër Durrës Elbasan Fier Gjirokastër Lezhë Korçë Kukës Shkodër Tirana Vlorë Adriatic Sea Ionian Sea

County Capital Area 1 Shkodër County (Qarku i Shkodrës) Shkodër 3,562 2 Kukës County (Qarku i Kukësit) Kukës 2,374 3 Lezhë County (Qarku i Lezhës) Lezhë 1,620 4 Dibër County (Qarku i Dibrës) Peshkopi 2,586 5 Durrës County (Qarku i Durrësit) Durrës 766 6 Tirana County (Qarku i Tiranës) Tirana 1,652 7 Elbasan County (Qarku i Elbasanit) Elbasan 3,199 8 Fier County (Qarku i Fierit) Fier 1,890 9 Berat County (Qarku i Beratit) Berat 1,798 10 Gjirokastër County (Qarku i Gjirokastrës) Gjirokastër 2,884 11 Vlorë County (Qarku i Vlorës) Vlorë 2,706 12 Korçë County (Qarku i Korçës) Korçë 3,711

See also

• Censorship in Albania
• Corruption in Albania
• Elections in Albania
• Foreign relations of Albania
• Government of Albania
• Human rights in Albania
• List of political parties in Albania
• Presidents of Albania
• Prime Ministers of Albania

References