Euroatlantic Democrats
Euroatlantic Democrats Demokratët Euroatlantikë | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | DEA KEA |
| Leader | Lulzim Basha |
| Spokesperson | Mirela Karabina |
| Registered chairperson | Endri Hasa |
| Founder | Lulzim Basha |
| Founded | 14 June 2024 as political faction/name |
| Registered | 3 March 2025 as electoral party |
| Split from | Democratic Party of Albania |
| Headquarters | Rruga "Donika Kastrioti", Tirana |
| Newspaper | Rilindja Demokratike |
| Ideology | Liberal conservatism Pro-Europeanism Atlanticism Anti-corruption |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Slogan | Albania deserves more (Albanian: Shqipëria meriton më shumë) |
| National Assembly | 0 / 140 |
| Website | |
| demokratet | |
Euroatlantic Democrats (Albanian: Demokratët Euroatlantikë, DEA), also known electorally as the Euroatlantic Coalition (Albanian: Koalicioni Euroatlantik, KEA), is a centre-right political party and faction in Albania led by former Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha. It emerged from the internal split of the Democratic Party that followed Basha's 2021 decision to remove Sali Berisha from the party's parliamentary group after Berisha was publicly designated by the United States for alleged involvement in corruption.[1]
The group adopted the name "Euroatlantic Democrats" in June 2024, after the Court of Appeal left the Democratic Party's seal and logo with the faction led by Berisha.[2][3] For the 2025 Albanian parliamentary election, the Central Election Commission registered the electoral subject "Partia Koalicioni Euroatlantik" with Endri Hasa as registered chairman, while the political group remained publicly associated with Basha.[4][5] The party received 20,864 votes, or 1.30%, and won no parliamentary seats.[6]
Background
The Euroatlantic Democrats originated in the long-running split within the Democratic Party of Albania. In September 2021, Basha removed former president and prime minister Sali Berisha from the Democratic Party parliamentary group after the United States barred Berisha from entering the country over alleged corruption. Berisha denied wrongdoing and challenged Basha's leadership.[1] The dispute split the Democratic Party between Basha's supporters and Berisha's "Re-establishment" faction.
Basha resigned as Democratic Party chairman in March 2022 after months of internal conflict and poor results for his faction in partial local elections.[1] The legal dispute over which faction controlled the Democratic Party's name, seal and logo continued after his resignation.
On 11 June 2024, the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of Enkelejd Alibeaj's side and left in force the decision recognising the decisions of the Berisha-backed December 2021 assembly. The ruling gave the official Democratic Party seal and logo to Berisha's faction.[2][7]
History
Formation
On 14 June 2024, three days after the Court of Appeal decision, Basha's faction presented the name "Euroatlantic Democrats" and the slogan "Albania deserves more". Basha said that the group would appeal the Court of Appeal decision to the Supreme Court and continue as a separate political alternative in the next election.[3] Media reported that the new label was intended to distinguish Basha's faction from Berisha's Democratic Party while preserving its claimed continuity with the pro-Western identity of the original Democratic Party.[3]
The group's official website lists Basha as chairman, with Flutura Açka, Kreshnik Çollaku, Orjola Pampuri and Roland Bejko as deputy chairs, Enkelejd Alibeaj as secretary general and Mirela Karabina as spokesperson.[8]
Registration for the 2025 election
On 3 March 2025, the Central Election Commission registered the political party "Koalicioni Euroatlantik" for the 11 May 2025 parliamentary election, with former Democratic Party MP Endri Hasa as its registered chairman.[4] Albanian media noted that Basha remained the public political leader of the group, while Hasa was the registered party chair before the election authorities.[4][5]
Gazeta Si reported that Hasa described the arrangement as a legal and procedural instrument for Basha's faction to participate in the election while continuing its legal battle over the Democratic Party seal and logo. Hasa stated that Basha and his supporters would run under the logo of the Euroatlantic Coalition, while still pursuing their claim before the Supreme Court.[5]
The Institute for Political Studies described KEA as a new political subject created before the 2025 election by Basha and his supporters. It placed the party in the centre-right spectrum and described its principles as similar to those of the Democratic Party, while differing in the solutions it proposed.[9]
2025 parliamentary election
Ahead of the 2025 election, the Euroatlantic Democrats presented candidates for parliament through their National Council. Basha said the group would run with open lists and that the candidate selection process was intended to give voters the choice of who would represent them.[10] The final candidate lists included Basha in Tirana County, Hasa and Mirela Karabina in Elbasan County, and Orjola Pampuri among the Tirana candidates.[11]
Reporter.al described the campaign as an attempt by Basha to make a political comeback after losing the legal dispute over the Democratic Party's seal and logo. It noted that the Euroatlantic Coalition distinguished itself from Berisha's Democratic Party by giving explicit support to the SPAK anti-corruption prosecution.[12]
In the election, the party received 20,864 votes, equal to 1.30% of valid votes nationwide, and won no seats in the Parliament of Albania.[6]
Ideology and platform
The Euroatlantic Democrats present themselves as a centre-right, pro-European and Atlanticist political force. Their programme emphasises Albania's Euro-Atlantic orientation, support for justice institutions, anti-corruption policies, open electoral lists and political renewal.[13]
The party has described unconditional support for justice reform and open electoral lists as central elements of its political programme.[13] Basha has argued that Albania's political system should be opened through electoral reform and that the fight against corruption should be connected with economic development, investment and public services.[12]
The party's economic programme has included proposals to support businesses, attract foreign investment, reduce taxes and improve living standards for families.[14]
Leadership
| Position | Officeholder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Political leader | Lulzim Basha | Listed by the party as chairman of the Euroatlantic Democrats[8] |
| Registered chairperson | Endri Hasa | Registered by the CEC as chairman of the electoral subject "Koalicioni Euroatlantik" for the 2025 election[4] |
| Spokesperson | Mirela Karabina | Listed by the party as spokesperson[8] |
| Secretary general | Enkelejd Alibeaj | Listed by the party as secretary general[8] |
Election results
Parliamentary elections
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Endri Hasa (registered) Lulzim Basha (political leader) |
20,864 | 1.30 | 0 / 140 |
 4 |
7th | Extra-parliamentary |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Albanian opposition leader resigns after party split". Reuters. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Appeal's Court gives Democratic Party's seal to former PM Sali Berisha". Euronews Albania. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 ""Euro-Atlantic Democrats"; after the appeal decision, Basha presents the new changes in the PD logo". Pamfleti. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "The CEC registers Lulzim Basha's new party in the May 11 elections, but with Endri Hasa as its leader". Hashtag.al. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Dyzimi i Lulzim Bashës; në zgjedhje si euroatlantik, në gjyq për vulën e PD si demokrat". Gazeta Si. 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Për shpërndarjen e mandateve midis subjekteve zgjedhore dhe përcaktimin e kandidatëve fitues në zonën zgjedhore Qarku Kukës për zgjedhjet për Kuvend të datës 11 maj 2025" (PDF) (in Albanian). Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve. 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Court of Appeal: The DP Seal and Logo Belong to Sali Berisha". Albanian Daily News. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Kryesia". Demokratët Euroatlantikë (in Albanian). Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ Broshurë informative mbi zgjedhjet parlamentare 2025 në Shqipëri (PDF) (Report) (in Albanian). Instituti i Studimeve Politike. May 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Basha finds 55 Euro-Atlantic Democrats first for MP lists". Hashtag.al. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Basha dorëzon listat, të gjithë në 'betejë' të hapur". Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). 12 March 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Koalicioni Euroatlantik: Beteja e Lulzim Bashës për një rikthim politik". Reporter.al (in Albanian). 14 April 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Basha me strukturat drejtuese të Demokratëve Euroatlantikë: Ja kontrata jonë me shqiptarët për zgjedhjet e 11 majit". Demokratët Euroatlantikë (in Albanian). 25 January 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Lulzim Basha unveils economic program for Euro-Atlantic Democrats". Albanian Times. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2026.