2025 Albanian local elections

2025 Albanian local elections
Turnout18.45%

Local elections were held on 9 November 2025 in five municipalities of Albania, following vacancies in local offices.[1] The Central Election Commission reported that 61,724 of 334,539 registered voters participated, making turnout 18.45%, the lowest voter turnout in Albania's electoral history.[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] Reported municipal turnout was 12.54% in Vlorë, 19.98% in Berat, 34.63% in Tepelenë, 39.36% in Mat and 25% in Cërrik.[4]

Summary of Municipal Elections

County Municipality Population (2023) Outgoing mayor - Party Elected mayor - Party Votes % Turnout[a] Turnout %
Vlorë Vlorë (details) 83,683 Ermal Dredha (PS) Brunilda Mersini (PS) 15,672 78.44% 19,980 12.54%
Berat Berat (details) 62,232 Ervin Demo (PS) Ervin Ceca (PS) 13,050 83.35% 15,657 19.98%
Gjirokastër Tepelenë (details) 6,761 Tërmet Peçi (PS) Gramos Sako (PS) 3,261 77.85% 4,189 34.63%
Dibër Mat (details) 17,405 Agron Malaj (PS) Altin Bojni (PS) 7,425 66.54% 11,158 39.36%
Elbasan Cërrik (details) 25,163 Andis Salla (PS) Florenc Doka (PS) 6,201 66.22% 9,364 25.00%

Municipal elections

Tirana

2025 Tirana Mayoral Election
Cancelled[5]
 
IND
Candidate Ogerta Manastirliu Florjan Binaj Arlind Qori
Party Socialist Party Independent Together Movement
Alliance
Supporters
 
PPSHR
Candidate Marko Dajti
Party Reorganised Party of Labour of Albania

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.[6]

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.[7]

On 1 October, President Bajram Begaj decreed 9 November 2025 as the date of by-elections in six municipalities following vacancies.[8]

On 2 October, Veliaj’s lawyers filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court against President Begaj’s decree.[9]

On 3 October, Arlind Qori announced his candidacy for mayor with the Together Movement.[10]

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.[11]

On 7 October, far-left candidate Marko Dajti announced his candidacy.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

Results

2025 Vlorë Mayoral by-election
Party Candidate Votes %
PS Brunilda Mersini 15,672 78.44%
Independent Dionis Sota[b] 2,333 11.68%
Independent Gjergji Nika[c] 1,975 9.88%
Total votes 19,980 100.0
Turnout 19980 12.54%
PS hold

Berat

2025 Berat Mayoral by-election
Party Candidate Votes %
PS Ervin Ceca 13,050 83.35%
Independent Pavlo Shkarpa[d] 2,607 16.65%
Total votes 15,657 100.0
Turnout 15657 19.98%
PS hold

Tepelena

2025 Tepelena Mayoral by-election
Party Candidate Votes %
PS Gramos Sako 3,261 77.85%
Independent Gabriel Guma[e] 928 22.15%
Total votes 4,189 100.0
Turnout 4189 34.63%
PS hold

Mat

2025 Mat Mayoral by-election
Party Candidate Votes %
PS Altin Bojni 7,425 66.54%
Independent Eduart Brahilika[f] 3,184 28.54%
Independent Suzana Pasha[g] 549 4.92%
Total votes 11,158 100.0
Turnout 11158 39.36%
PS hold

Cërriku

2025 Cërrik Mayoral by-election
Party Candidate Votes %
PS Florenc Doka 6,201 66.22%
Independent Amarildo Hoxha[h] 1,888 20.16%
LSHB Eligert Hima 1,275 13.62%
Total votes 9,364 100.0
Turnout 9364 25.00%
PS hold

Opinion polls

Tirana

Polling firm Polling dates Sample Ogerta Manastirliu Florjan Binaj Arlind Qori Marko Dajti Lead
Notosondaggi + News24 Albania[19] 25 – 28 October 2025 — 42% – 46% 40% – 44% 11.5% – 13.5% 0.5% – 2.5% 2.0%

References

  1. ↑ Municipal turnout figures use the total valid votes recorded in the result boxes; the overall turnout reported by the Central Election Commission was 61,724 voters, or 18.45%.
  2. ↑ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
  3. ↑ Nika ran as an Euroatlantic Democrats candidate in the last parliamentary elections.[17]
  4. ↑ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
  5. ↑ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
  6. ↑ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
  7. ↑ 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.[18]
  8. ↑ Supporters: Democratic Party-ASHM, Opportunity Party, Hashtag Initiative, Independents.
  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "Përfundon procesi i numërimit të votave, në pesë bashkitë do të qeverisin socialistët" [The vote counting process ends, socialists will govern in the five municipalities]. BalkanWeb (in Albanian). 10 November 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "Zgjedhjet në 5 Bashki. Pjesëmarrja 18.45 %. Numërimi në Tepelenë, për herë të parë me AI" [Elections in 5 municipalities. Turnout 18.45%. Counting in Tepelenë, for the first time with AI]. ABC News Albania (in Albanian). 9 November 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "Rama 'lan duart' me Veliajn, Ogerta Manastirliu kandidate për Tiranën".
  7. ↑ "DP and SP merge votes, Erion Veliaj is dismissed from office".
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Arlind Qori: Garoj për Tiranën si alternativë anti-sistem".
  11. ↑ "Top News – Florian Binaj për Tiranën/ Berisha mbështet aktorin në garë përballë PS".
  12. ↑ "Sfidon Manastirliun dhe Florjan Binajn, Marko Dajti hyn në garë për Bashkinë e Tiranës".
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ https://www.balkanweb.com/lajmi-i-fundit-brunilda-mersini-kandidate-per-bashkine-e-vlores-ne-zgjedhjet-e-9-nentorit/#gsc.tab=0
  16. ↑ https://www.balkanweb.com/en/gjergji-nika-regjistrohet-zyrtarisht-kandidat-per-kryetar-bashkie-ne-vlore/#gsc.tab=0
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ https://www.balkanweb.com/binaj-dhe-manastirliu-koke-me-koke-sondazhi-i-notosondaggi-gare-e-forte-mes-dy-kandidateve-kryesore-ja-si-priren-te-votojne-qytetaret-e-tiranes
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