From: Alice Taylor
After 12 hours of voting, Albanian voting centers are now closed. Voters turned out in record numbers, surpassing those who voted in both the 2013 and 2017 general elections.
The day passed quietly with few issues. There were some reports of voter intimidation and ballot photographing and a number of individuals were escorted by the police. There were issues with biometric identification software in various voting centers, but the CEC was overall pleased with the way the day proceeded.
04:28
- Tom Doshi, the leader of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) has resigned irrevocably from the party leadership, his current and future parliamentary seat.
- His resignation presented to the CEC means that Doshi will not be a member of the new parliament.
- Tom Doshi was barred from entering the US over corruption allegations, and his candidacy in the April 25 elections was repeatedly opposed by US Ambassador Yuri Kim.
- Chances are that his party may prove to be crucial in the formation of a new government, as the PSD is projected to win 1-2 seats, being the fourth and last party to enter the parliament.
- Prime Minister Edi Rama had vowed not to collaborate with his former ally, Tom Doshi, following the US Ambassador’s request to Albanian institutions to ban Doshi from running in elections. Now Rama can enter a government coalition with the PSD if necessary, without having to violate his promise.
04:18
- The number of ballots counted so far is 130,671, of which 123,890 were found to be valid and 6,607 invalid (5%).
03:42
- Bojken Abazi, an independent candidate running in Tirana, has claimed that his observers are not allowed to enter the vote counting center no.34 in the capital. He called for media coverage on the case, and for the police to disobey orders that violate the law.
- Abazi said he will file a complaint with the CEC.
- Another independent candidate, Elton Debreshi, also claimed earlier that police did not allow his observers inside the counting center.
03:36
- Preliminary results for Shkoder district as of 3:21 a.m. with 4.4% of votes counted: PS 31.28%, PD 39.48%, PSD 17.33%, LSI 8.02%.
03:32
- Preliminary results for Kukes district as of 3:21 a.m. with 11.3% of votes counted: PS 34.45%, PD 64%, LSI 0.06%.
03:28
- Preliminary results for Lezhe district as of 3:21 a.m. with 5.2% of votes counted: PS 38.8%, PD 47.7%, LSI 7.93%.
03:26
- Preliminary results for Diber district as of 3:21 a.m. with 9.3% of votes counted: PS 43.3%, PD 48.19%, LSI 5.71%.
03:23
- Preliminary results for Durres district as of 3:21 a.m. with 0.4% of votes counted: PS 68.19%, PD 27%, LSI 2.15%.
03:22
- Preliminary results for Tirana district as of 3:21 a.m. with 2.8% of votes counted: PS 54%, PD 33.54%, LSI 6.8%.
03:15
- Preliminary results for Elbasan district as of 3 a.m. with 7% of votes counted: PS 56.26%, PD 36.9%, LSI 4.3%.
03:13
- Preliminary results for Korce district as of 3 a.m. with 6.3% of votes counted: PS 47.5%, PD 40.6%, LSI 9.2%.
03:10
- Preliminary results for Berat district as of 3 a.m. with 8.3% of votes counted: PS 54.4%, PD 32.5%, LSI 11.1%.
03:07
- Preliminary results for Fier district as of 3 a.m. with 5.5% of votes counted: PS 52.3%, PD 40%, LSI 4.8%.
03:05
- Preliminary results for Gjirokaster district as of 3 a.m. with 14.5% of votes counted: PS 54.7%, PD 29.7%, LSI 13.4%.
03:02
- Preliminary results for Vlora district as of 3 a.m. with 6% of votes counted: PS 64.8%, PD 26.5%, LSI 6.3%.
03:00
- Preliminary nationwide results by the CEC as of 3 a.m. with with 4.5% of votes counted: PS 51..1%, PD 38.3%, LSI 6.9%.
01:23
- Nesihat Stermasi, 101, the wife of the late Albanian football star Selman Stermasi, was unable to vote on Sunday despite showing up at two polling stations where her family voted. She could not find her name on the voters lists, and learned that a special process is in place to register those more than 100 years old. “It was sad. I wanted to vote with all my heart,” she told journalists.
01:06
- EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca also visited a counting center in Tirana shortly after midnight to observe the counting of votes. He stressed the necessity for the counting to be carried out “with the highest level of integrity and responsibility”.
- Ambassador Soreca commended party leaders who called for patience until the results are out. “It will be equally important to respect the outcome of the elections,” he stressed.
00:47
- US Ambassador Yuri Kim and Ilirjan Celibashi of the CEC urged political parties to refrain from declaring victory at a time when the counting has started in only few centers. They visited a vote counting center in Tirana in early Monday hours, and called on counting teams to do their job with high integrity.
00:30
- The head of CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi announced the unofficial turnout: 48.2 percent. He said all ballot boxes are being transported from polling stations to regional counting centers, and the process is expected to finish soon.
- Celibashi said that about 48 hours will be needed before a final result is announced.
00:25
- Police arrested Mikel Lleshaj, 32, for stabbing a police officer in Puka on Sunday at a polling station. He is expected to face charges of tentative murder of a police officer.
23:50
- Elton Debreshi, the miner running as an independent candidate, has claimed that the local election commission in Bulqize and the police have prevented his observer to exercise her duty by taking her out of the polling station and locking the door.
- The observer was unable to enter for over 5 hours, until the time of writing.
- Debreshi called on international observers for help.
23:42
- Preliminary results of Euronews Albania’s exit poll show the Socialist Party leading in a relatively close race: PS 42.4-48.4 percent, and PD 37.4-43.4 percent. The government intensified reconstruction efforts in the city following the deadly November 2019 earthquake. Durres has also been the center of the Albanian Electiongate of 2017.
23.11
- The CEC has published its first results while the counting has just started in a few districts. The PS has so far won 46.27 percent of votes in one vote center counted so far, PD 44.71 percent, and LSI 6.67 percent.
23:05
- The Socialist Party resulted the winner of elections in the first village that concluded the counting of ballots on Sunday. The distribution of votes was as follows in the Kallamas village of Pustec: PS – 118, PD – 114, LSI – 17. The counting has also started in Has and other districts are expected to follow.
22:25
- Ballot counting has started in several counting stations throughout the country. The first ballot box was counted in a counting station in Pustec, Korce.
22:06
- Minister of Interior Bledar Çuçi expressed his belief that ballot counting will be conducted properly showing the maturity of the election personnel.
21:25
- Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj addressed party supporters declaring that all the polls indicate that Socialist Party is the winner of the elections. According to him, their internal party projections indicate that the socialists will win an outright majority, with 72 seats in the 140 seats parliament.
21:09
- A police officer was wounded in a vote center in Fushe Arrez near Tirana when the process was about to end at 7pm. The police said a 32-year-old man is wanted as the suspect.
21:04
- The leader of the opposition Democratic Party Lulzim Basha addressed the media stating that “Albanian people have chosen change”, but refrained from calling the opposition the winner of the election. He expressed his belief that the will of the people will be respected and all the votes will be counted.
20:55
- Three Exit Polls conducted by Ora News, Euronews Albania, and Top Channel indicate a close race, which is too close to call. The Socialist Party looks poised to come out as the first party, but short of an outright majority in the parliament, with the opposition likely to win more than 70 seats in the 140 member parliament.
20:35
- The head of CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi called on political parties to refrain from claiming their victory as the vote counting process has just began. Any victory claim could result in raised tensions and pressure on those who are counting the votes, he said.
20:30
- Prime Minister Edi Rama also praised the process and thanked the Albanian people in a press statement. He said the rest of the process should be peaceful in order for Albania to come out victorious from these elections.
20:25
- President Ilir Meta praised the voting process and called for calm until votes are counted. He stressed the crucial role of those who will count the votes, and said that projections of results and exit polls benefit specific political parties.
20:12
- Elton Debreshi, the independent candidate in Dibra has raised the alarm over alleged issues with closing the ballot boxes and obstructing observers from the centre. He said the police are present but did not intervene.
20:11
- Independent candidate in Tirana Boiken Abazi of Vetëvendosje stated that his observers are in every center and “will not allow manipulation or theft of votes”. “The integrity of these elections depends on guaranteeing the vote of the citizens who have supported the independent candidates,” Abazi said in a Facebook post.
20:07
- A man has been arrested in Libofsha for threatening to set fire to ballot boxes. Media reports he stood at the entrance to the voting center with a bottle of fuel in his hand. The police, who were on-site at the time, arrested him before he could carry out his threat.
19:59
- Neritan Sejamini added that the PSD has a very important role to play in forming the new government as they could get two seats; one in Tirana and one in Shkodra.
- “I don’t know if they are opposition or majority, but in the end, they will have a significant role as the result is expected to be very close. It will be problematic because the victory won’t be clear,” he said.
- PSD is headed by Tom Doshi, a candidate Prime Minister Edi Rama said he will never collaborate with, due in part, to the fact he is banned from entering the US over allegations of corruption. The US Embassy has been staunch in its approach to Doshi in politics and has made it clear it doesn’t approve of him running in politics.
19:56
- Himara registered the lowest rate of voter turnout in history during this general election. Only 5700 people out of more than 21,000 cast a vote.
19:51
- US Ambassador Yuri Kim took to Twitter to remind law enforcement and the authorities to ensure the integrity of the vote. candidates and leaders should also not presume the vote, but should accept the judgment of voters, she wrote.
19:49
- The collection and transport of all ballot boxes throughout Albania have started. The CEC said that the results of parties and coalitions can be released within 48 hours but the results of candidates for deputies will take longer.
19:46
- Prisoners in Burrel high-security prison cast their votes today. Out of the 79 prisoners, 52 cast their vote.
19:41
- Exit’s Editor in Chief Neritan Sejamini speaking on Euronews said that “the whole summer will be us talking about who will form the new government.”
- Exit poll figures suggest that more people voted against the Socialist Party than for them, but who forms the government will depend on exact figures as well as political deals that may be made.
19:36
- Exit polls show a PD victory is likely in Tirana and Durres, but in Elbasan the PD and PS are head-to-head. According to an exit poll by Ora News. with 80% of the data, PD and PS each have between 43% and 47%, LSI 4%-6%, PSD 0%-2%, Nisma Thurje 0%-2%, and others 2%-4%.
19:24
- Chairman of the CEC Ilirjan Celibashi said that the counting of ballots will begin immediately and that the final results will be ready within 48 hours. Now the process of transporting ballot boxes to the voting centers will begin. He called for calm and patience while counting takes place.
19:17
- Data from the Ora News exit poll show that the PD took Tirana with between 44%-48% of the vote, PS with 41%-45%, LSI 4%-8%, PSD 1.5%- 3.5%, Nisma Thurje 1.5%-3.5%
19:06
- Euronews has released its exit poll where it estimates the following: Socialist Party 42.3%- 46.3 %, PD Alliance for Change 40%- 44%, LSI 6.5%-9.5%, PSD 2%-4%, others 1.7%- 3.7%
