Albanians headed to the polls on Sunday in parliamentary elections, with Prime Minister Edi Rama aiming for an unprecedented fourth consecutive term.

The vote, overshadowed by corruption allegations and Albania’s stalled EU membership bid, opened at 7:00 a.m. and will close at 7:00 p.m., with results expected Monday, according to the election commission.

Rama, leader of the Socialist Party since 2013, faces his long-time rival, former Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party. Buoyed by a decade of economic growth and his push for EU accession, Rama remains the frontrunner. At his final rally on Friday, he vowed to secure Albania’s EU membership by 2030, stating, “We will get our fourth mandate, and we will not lose a single day for Albania 2030 in the EU.”

However, experts question the timeline, citing the need for major anti-corruption reforms to meet EU standards. The campaign has been marred by controversies, including the arrest of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, a Rama ally, on corruption and money laundering charges. Veliaj denies the allegations. Berisha, meanwhile, faces his own legal challenges, limiting his campaign efforts.

Opinion polls project Rama’s Socialists to win over 40% of the vote, though they may need smaller allied parties to maintain a majority in the 140-seat parliament. Public disillusionment, particularly among youth, has grown over economic inequality and a political class dominated by the same figures since the 1990s.

The EU and international observers are closely monitoring the elections, given Albania’s role as a strategic partner in the Western Balkans and its ongoing EU candidacy. (ILKHA)