2025 Albanian local elections
Local elections were held on 9 November 2025 in five municipalities of Albania, following vacancies in local offices.[1] The elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in Albania’s history, at 18.45%.[2]
A Tirana mayoral election had initially been planned but was later cancelled following a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which reinstated the incumbent Erion Veliaj, currently under arrest, as the legitimate Mayor of Tirana. The court annulled his dismissal by the Tirana Municipal Council, the Council of Ministers, and President Bajram Begaj.[3]
Summary of Municipal Elections
| County | Municipality | Population (2023) | Outgoing mayor - Party | Elected mayor - Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vlorë | Vlorë (details) | 83,683 | Ermal Dredha (PS) | Brunilda Mersini (PS) | 15,672 | 78.44% | ||
| Berat | Berat (details) | 62,232 | Ervin Demo (PS) | Ervin Ceca (PS) | 13,050 | 83.35% | ||
| Gjirokastër | Tepelenë (details) | 6,761 | Tërmet Peçi (PS) | Gramos Sako (PS) | 3,261 | 77.85% | ||
| Dibër | Mat (details) | 17,405 | Agron Malaj (PS) | Altin Bojni (PS) | 7,425 | 66.54% | ||
| Elbasan | Cërrik (details) | 25,163 | Andis Salla (PS) | Florenc Doka (PS) | 6,201 | 66.22% | ||
Municipal elections
Tirana
Cancelled[4]
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On 11 September, the current Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama officially announced Ogerta Manastirliu as his party’s candidate for mayor of Tirana, calling for the dismissal of incumbent Erion Veliaj and a by-election.[5]
On 26 September, the Tirana Municipal Council voted to dismiss incumbent mayor Erion Veliaj from office as a result of his seven-month absence due to his arrest.[6]
On 1 October, President Bajram Begaj decreed 9 November 2025 as the date of by-elections in six municipalities following vacancies.[7]
On 2 October, Veliaj’s lawyers filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court against President Begaj’s decree.[8]
On 3 October, Arlind Qori announced his candidacy for mayor with the Together Movement.[9]
On 6 October, the Democratic Party, Freedom Party, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, and other movements agreed to back independent candidate Florjan Binaj.[10]
On 7 October, far-left candidate Marko Dajti announced his candidacy.[11]
On 9 October, the Constitutional Court unanimously decided to refer the case of petitioner Erion Veliaj to a public plenary session on 31 October and to suspend the presidential decree insofar as it sets the date of the elections in the Municipality of Tirana.[12]
On 3 November, the Constitutional Court reinstated the incumbent Erion Veliaj, currently under arrest, as the legitimate Mayor of Tirana. The court annulled his dismissal by the Tirana Municipal Council, the Council of Ministers, and President Bajram Begaj, and consequently, the planned Tirana Mayoral Election was cancelled.[13]
Vlora
On 10th September, mayor Ermal Dredha resigned from his position as mayor of Vlora. He won the municipality by 70.55% in 2023, defeating the Bashkë Fitojmë candidate who got only 29.45%.
On 7th October, the Socialist Party selected Brunilda Mersini, an incumbent deputy for the Vlora County, as their candidate.[14] On the same date, the independent candidate backed by the opposition, Dionis Sota announced candidacy.
On 30th October, Gjergji Nika became the third candidate to run for the city after a decision of the Electoral College.[15]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Brunilda Mersini | 15,672 | 78.44% | |
| Independent | Dionis Sota[a] | 2,333 | 11.68% | |
| Independent | Gjergji Nika[b] | 1,975 | 9.88% | |
| Total votes | 19,980 | 100.0 | ||
| PS hold | ||||
Berat
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Ervin Ceca | 13,050 | 83.35% | |
| Independent | Pavlo Shkarpa[c] | 2,607 | 16.65% | |
| Total votes | 15,657 | 100.0 | ||
| PS hold | ||||
Tepelena
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Gramos Sako | 3,261 | 77.85% | |
| Independent | Gabriel Guma[d] | 928 | 22.15% | |
| Total votes | 4,189 | 100.0 | ||
| PS hold | ||||
Mat
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Altin Bojni | 7,425 | 66.54% | |
| Independent | Eduart Brahilika[e] | 3,184 | 28.54% | |
| Independent | Suzana Pasha[f] | 549 | 4.92% | |
| Total votes | 11,158 | 100.0 | ||
| PS hold | ||||
Cërriku
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Florenc Doka | 6,201 | 66.22% | |
| Independent | Amarildo Hoxha[g] | 1,888 | 20.16% | |
| LSHB | Eligert Hima | 1,275 | 13.62% | |
| Total votes | 9,364 | 100.0 | ||
| PS hold | ||||
Opinion polls
Tirana
| Polling firm | Polling dates | Sample | Ogerta Manastirliu | Florjan Binaj | Arlind Qori | Marko Dajti | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notosondaggi + News24 Albania | 25 – 28 October 2025 | — | 42% – 46% | 40% – 44% | 11.5% – 13.5% | 0.5% – 2.5% | 2.0% |
References
- ^ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
- ^ Nika ran as an Euroatlantic Democrats candidate in the last parliamentary elections.[16]
- ^ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
- ^ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
- ^ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
- ^ Pasha is the current Chairwoman of the Socialist Party Women's Forum in Mat. She ran as an independent after expressing dissatisfaction with the official PS candidate.[17]
- ^ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
- ^ "Zgjedhjet në 6 bashki më 9 nëntor, Presidenca sqaron dekretin për Tiranën" [Elections in 6 municipalities on November 9, the Presidency clarifies the decree for Tirana]. lexo.al (in Albanian). Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ^ https://monitor.al/zgjedhjet-e-pjesshme-vendore-mbyllen-me-pjesemarrje-minimale-te-votuesve/
- ^ "Ekskluzive/ Kushtetuesja rrëzon Qeverinë, Veliaj rikthehet si kryetar Bashkie i Tiranës" [Exclusive/ Constitutional Court overturns Government, Veliaj returns as Mayor of Tirana]. Top Channel (in Albanian). Retrieved November 3, 2025.
- ^ "Ekskluzive/ Kushtetuesja rrëzon Qeverinë, Veliaj rikthehet si kryetar Bashkie i Tiranës" [Exclusive/ Constitutional Court overturns Government, Veliaj returns as Mayor of Tirana]. Top Channel (in Albanian). Retrieved November 3, 2025.
- ^ "Rama 'lan duart' me Veliajn, Ogerta Manastirliu kandidate për Tiranën".
- ^ "DP and SP merge votes, Erion Veliaj is dismissed from office".
- ^ "Zgjedhjet në 6 bashki më 9 nëntor, Presidenca sqaron dekretin për Tiranën" [Elections in six municipalities on November 9, the Presidency clarifies the decree for Tirana]. lexo.al (in Albanian). Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ^ "Gjykata Kushtetuese rrëzon dekretin e Presidentit, anulon zgjedhjet në Bashkinë e Tiranës" [Constitutional Court overturns President's decree, annuls Tirana Municipality elections]. BalkanWeb (in Albanian). Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ^ "Arlind Qori: Garoj për Tiranën si alternativë anti-sistem".
- ^ "Top News – Florian Binaj për Tiranën/ Berisha mbështet aktorin në garë përballë PS".
- ^ "Sfidon Manastirliun dhe Florjan Binajn, Marko Dajti hyn në garë për Bashkinë e Tiranës".
- ^ "Gjykata Kushtetuese rrëzon dekretin e Presidentit, anulon zgjedhjet në Bashkinë e Tiranës" [Constitutional Court overturns President's decree, annuls Tirana Municipality elections]. BalkanWeb (in Albanian). Retrieved October 26, 2025.
- ^ "Ekskluzive/ Kushtetuesja rrëzon Qeverinë, Veliaj rikthehet si kryetar Bashkie i Tiranës" [Exclusive/ Constitutional Court overturns Government, Veliaj returns as Mayor of Tirana]. Top Channel (in Albanian). Retrieved November 3, 2025.
- ^ https://www.balkanweb.com/lajmi-i-fundit-brunilda-mersini-kandidate-per-bashkine-e-vlores-ne-zgjedhjet-e-9-nentorit/#gsc.tab=0
- ^ https://www.balkanweb.com/en/gjergji-nika-regjistrohet-zyrtarisht-kandidat-per-kryetar-bashkie-ne-vlore/#gsc.tab=0
- ^ "Zgjedhjet parlamentare/ Gjergji Nika: Vlora meriton më shumë, më 11 maj voto për ndryshimin" [Parliamentary elections/ Gjergji Nika: Vlora deserves more, vote for change on May 11]. Sot (in Albanian). Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ Konomi, Esiona. "Zgjedhjet/ Kryetarja e Forumit të Gruas së PS në Mat 'sfidon' partinë! Suzana Pasha Hoti regjistron në KZAZ Komitetin Nismëtar për të kandiduar si e pavarur" [Elections/ The Chairwoman of the PS Women's Forum in Mat 'challenges' the party! Suzana Pasha Hoti registers the Initiative Committee in the KZAZ to run as an independent]. Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Archived from the original on Nov 7, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.