2009 Albanian parliamentary election

Albanian parliamentary election, 2009

28 June 2009
All 140 seats to the Assembly
Leader Sali Berisha Edi Rama Ilir Meta Leader since December 1990 1 September 2005 2004 Leader's seat Tirana Did not participate Tirana Last election 56+4+11+1=71 seats 42+7+2+2=54 seats 5 seats+1=6 Seats won 68+1+1=70 seats 64+1=65 seats 4 seats Seat change +12,-10 +22,-7,-2,-1 -1,-1 Popular vote 643502 649129 73353 Percentage 46.83% 45.39% 5.56%
Prime Minister before election Sali Berisha PD Prime Minister-designate TBD

A parliamentary election was held in Albania on 28 June 2009. Prior to the election, the electoral law was changed to a regional proportionally system. Polls from March and April 2009 saw a very close race, with both the governing Democratic Party of Albania and the opposition Socialist Party of Albania around 37%, with minor parties like the Socialist Movement for Integration, the G99 Movement, the Unity for Human Rights Party and the Republican Party of Albania in the low single digits.

Alliances

Shortly before the election, the ethnic Greek Unity for Human Rights Party switched their allegiance, abandoning their alliance with the Democratic Party of Albania to join the Socialist Party of Albania.. The Party for Justice and Integration, a party representing the interest of ethnic albanians whose properties in Greece where seized after WW2,joined the coalition in its place. In total, 32 parties organized in four alliances contested the election:

• Alliance of Changes (Aleance per Ndryshim)
  • Democratic Party of Albania
  • Republican Party of Albania (PR)
  • Environmentalist Agrarian Party (PAA)
  • Democratic Alliance Party (PAD)
  • Legality and Unity of the Right (PLL)
  • Democratic National Front Party (PBKD)
  • Albanian National Front (PBK)
  • Liberal Democratic Union (BLD)
  • Party for Justice and Integration (PDI) etc

• Unification for Changes (Bashkimi per Ndryshim)
  • Socialist Party of Albania
  • Social Democratic Party of Albania (PSD)
  • G99
  • Unity for Human Rights Party (PBDNJ)
  • Social Democracy Party of Albania (PDS)

• Pole of Freedom
  • Christian Democratic Party of Albania
  • Movement for the Future of Albania (LZHK)
  • Democratic Union Party (PBD)
  • Conservative Party

• Socialist Alliance
  • Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI)
  • Albanian Green Party (PGJ)
  • Movement of Human Rights and Freedoms (LDLNJ)
  • Real Socialist Party '91(PSV'91)
  • New Tolerance Party (PTR)

Polls

Name of polls company	Polling Date	Alliance of Change (Democratic Party of Albania)	Unification for Changes (Socialist Party of Albania)	Socialist Alliance for Integration (Socialist Movement for Integration)	Pole of Freedom (Christian Democratic Party of Albania)
Zogby	January	31%	38%	5%	1%
Gani Bobi Institute	February	46.6%	43.6%	6.2%	1%
Zogby	February	36%	42%	5%	1%
Zogby	March	37%	42%	5%	1%
Gani Bobi Institute	April	46.6%	45.1%	6.2%	1.5%
Zogby	April	39%	39%	6%	0%
IPR Marketing	April	39%	43%	8%	2%
IPR Marketing	May	44.7%	47.3%	7%	0%
Zogby	May-June	42%	42%	4%	2%
Gani Bobi Institute	June	41.1%	33.2%	3.2%	0%
IPR Marketing	17 June	42.6%	39.6%	4.5%	2%
IPR Marketing	21 June	47.9%	44.1%	6%	2%

European Union

The EU delegation head in Tirana, Helmut Lohan, said in January 2009 that the election would be considered by the EU as a "litmus test" for Albania's bid to join the union.

Electoral slogans

Name of party	Slogan in English	Slogan in Albanian
Democratic Party of Albania	Albania is changing	Shqipëria po ndryshon
Socialist Party of Albania	New politics for change	Politikë e re për ndryshim
Socialist Movement for Integration	Time for action	Koha për veprim
Republican Party of Albania	Family, Property, Nation	Familje, Pronë, Komb

Exit Polls

Right after the elections exit-polls have been conducted. According to Gani Bobi, the Democratic Party leads the Socialist Party with 47,5% and 38,8% respectively, with the Socialist Movement for Integration getting 6,5%. According to APR Marketing's exit poll, the Democratic Party won between 42% and 46%, and the Socialist Party between 36,5% and 40,4%..The exit poll by Zogby International gave the Democratic Part 69 seats and to the Socialist Party 55.[4].

All the exit polls, while they predicted the results of certain regions properly, were rather inaccurate as the election was much closer.

Results

Nationwide Results

International observers judged the elections to be free and fair, with no major irregularities, for the first time in Albania's history. Turnout was well above the 2005 level.

Regional Results

The electorate was split in twelve regions, in a regional proportional system, each of which elected a specific number of Members of Parliament (deputet). The following table details the regional results going North to South.

Coalitions

Region	Alliance of changes %	Unification of changes %	Socialist Alliance for Integrations %	Pole of Freedom %	PLiDr %	Alliance of Changes seats	Unification for Changes seats	Socialist Alliance for Integration seats	Pole of Freedom seats	PLiDr seats	Total
Shkoder	58.03%	35.24%	2.9%	3.45%	0.38%	7	4	0	0	0	11
Kukes	64.97%	31.35%	2.92%	0.68%	0.08%	3	1	0	0	0	4
Lezhe											7
Diber	57.71%	32.38%	5.71%	4.08%	0.12%	4	2	0	0	0	6
Durres	51.64%	39.22%	8.02%	0.9%	0.22%	7	5	1	0	0	13
Tirane	46.74%	45.74%	5.25%	1.83%	0.44%	16	15	1	0	0	32
Elbasan
Fier
Berat
Korce					6	6	0	0	12
Vlore
Gjirokaster

Preliminary results were expected late Wednesday, 1 July.