Albanian parliamentary election, 2005

Albanian parliamentary election, 2005

3 July 2005

100 Constituencies and 40 Compensatory seats with National Proportional Representation 71 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   Leader Sali Berisha Fatos Nano Fatmir Mediu Party Democratic Socialist PR Last election 46 seats 73 seats 0 seats Seats won 56 42 11 Seat change 10 31 11 Popular vote 602,066 538,906 272,746 Percentage 44,1% 39,4% 20,0%   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Skënder Gjinushi Ilir Meta Genc Pollo Party PSD LSI Last election 4 seats New 3 seats Seats before New 3 seats Seats won 7 5 4 Seat change 3 5 1 Popular vote 174,103 114,798 101,373 Percentage 12,7% 8,4% 7,4%

Prime Minister before election Fatos Nano Socialist Elected Prime Minister Sali Berisha Democratic

Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 3 July 2005.^[1] The result was a victory for the opposition Democratic Party (PD) and its allies, prominently the Republican Party (PR). Former president Sali Berisha became prime minister as a result of the election.^[2] Voter turnout was only 48.0%.^[3]

Electoral system

The 140 members of parliament were elected using the Mixed-member proportional representation. Voters elected 100 deputies directly from electorates (constituencies) and 40 from party lists or proportional representation.^[4]

Conduct

The proper conduct of the election was seen as crucial in maintaining Albania's eventual EU hopes.^[5] For the most part, election day was peaceful, but OSCE monitors said that the poll only partially complied with international standards,^[6] citing disorganization, improper procedures and "a few violent incidents." The Central Election Commission (CEC) received over 300 complaints.^[7]

Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe called the election a “disappointment,” saying it failed to comply with international standards because of “serious irregularities,” intimidation, vote-buying and “violence committed by extremists on both sides.”^[8]

Results

On 14 July the CEC released final results for 97 constituencies as well as the tentative national proportional results. The clear winners were the Democratic Party and its allies, though with many close constituency races between the PD and the governing Socialist Party of Albania (PSSh). In the proportional ballot, most voters chose minor parties rather than the two major parties. The only party to win both proportional and constituency-level seats was the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) of former prime minister Ilir Meta, as Meta himself won the party's lone constituency mandate. Despite this, the LSI did not fulfill pre-election expectations that it might emerge as a dealmaker in the next parliament.

Party	Constituency			Compensatory			Total seats	+/-
	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
Democratic Party of Albania	602,066	44.1	56	104,796	7.7	0	56	+10
Socialist Party of Albania	538,906	39.4	42	121,412	8.9	0	42	-31
Socialist Movement for Integration	112,449	8.2	1	114,798	8.4	4	5	New
Republican Party of Albania	113,356	8.3	0	272,746	20.0	11	11	New
Social Democratic Party of Albania			0	174,103	12.7	7	7	+3
New Democratic Party			0	101,373	7.4	4	4	+1
Environmentalist Agrarian Party			0	89,635	6.6	4	4	+1
Democratic Alliance Party			0	65,093	4.8	3	3	0
Social Democracy Party of Albania			0	57,998	4.2	2	2	New
Unity for Human Rights Party			0	56,403	4.1	2	2	-1
National Movement - King Zogu I			0	47,967	3.5	0	0	New
Christian Democratic Party			0	44,576	3.3	2	2	+2
National Front			0	22,896	1.7	0	0	New
Party for Justice and Integration			0	16,012	1.2	0	0	New
Liberal Democratic Union			0	14,418	1.1	1	1	New
Party of Labour of Albania			0	9,292	0.7	0	0	New
Freedom and Human Rights Movements			0	9,027	0.7	0	0	New
Communist Party of Albania			0	8,937	0.7	0	0	New
Democratic National Front Party			0	7,632	0.6	0	0	New
Albanian Democratic Union Party			0	7,371	0.5	0	0	0
Albanian Socialist Alliance Party			0	6,604	0.5	0	0	New
Alliance for Welfare and Solidarity			0	5,059	0.4	0	0	New
Social Albanian Parties – National Unity Party			0	3,260	0.2	0	0	New
Albanian Democratic Party for a New Right Democracy			0	1,794	0.1	0	0	New
Albanian Green League			0	1,710	0.1	0	0	New
Albanian Democratic Monarchist Movement Party			0	774	0.1	0	0	New
Albanian National Security Party			0	570	0.1	0	0	New
Independents			1	–	–	–	1	-1
Invalid/blank votes		–	–	21,973	–	–	–	–
Total	1,366,777	100	100	1,367,347	100	40	140	0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Adam Carr

References

1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p133 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. "Albania's new PM takes charge". The Independent. 2005-09-02. p. 22.
3. Nohlen & Stöver, p141
4. Albania IFES
5. Hope, Kerin (2005-07-01). "Election puts Albania at crossroads on Sunday's vote will decide whether the Balkan nation resumes talks linked to closer integration with the Union.". Financial Times. p. 2.
6. Hope, Kerin (2005-07-11). "Former Albanian president tainted by savings scheme scandal poised for Balkan comeback". Financial Times. p. 8.
7. "Berisha officially declared election winner". Ireland On-Line. 2005-09-01. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
8. Stuart Stevens' ... Past Clients| Penn Bullock| 29 October 2012| tnr.com| accessed 29.10.2012

External links

• Angus Reid Consultants - Election Tracker
• Albanian Central Election Commission