# 2013 Albanian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 23 June 2013. The result was a victory for the Alliance for a European Albania led by the Socialist Party and its leader, Edi Rama. Incumbent Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party-led Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration conceded defeat on 26 June.

## Background

The previous parliamentary elections were held on 28 June 2009 and resulted in a victory for the Democratic Party of Albania-led Alliance of Change, which received 46.92 of the vote, winning 70 of the 140 seats. The opposition Union for Change headed by Edi Rama of the Socialist Party received almost 45.34% of the vote and won the other 66 seats. The Democratic Party led by Sali Berisha formed the government with Berisha as Prime Minister.

## Electoral system

The 140 members of Parliament were elected in twelve multi-member constituencies based on the twelve counties using closed list proportional representation with an electoral threshold of 3% for parties and 5% for alliances. Seats were allocated to alliances using the d'Hondt method, then to political parties using the Sainte-Laguë method.
| # | County | Seats |
| 1 | Berat | 8 |
| 2 | Dibër | 6 |
| 3 | Durrës | 13 |
| 4 | Elbasan | 14 |
| 5 | Fier | 16 |
| 6 | Gjirokastër | 5 |
| 7 | Korçë | 12 |
| 8 | Kukës | 4 |
| 9 | Lezhë | 7 |
| 10 | Shkodër | 11 |
| 11 | Tirana | 32 |
| 12 | Vlorë | 12 |

## Alliances

Prior to the election two major coalitions were formed, whilst four parties and two independent candidates ran alone. In total there were 66 parties.
* Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration (Aleanca për Punësim, Mirëqenie dhe Integrim) is a coalition of 25 centrist and center-right parties. It was led by the then Prime Minister, Sali Berisha.
* Alliance for a European Albania (Aleanca për Shqipërinë Europiane) is a big tent coalition containing 37 opposition parties that vary from far left to right-wing. It was led by the then Leader of the Opposition, now Prime Minister, Edi Rama.

## Opinion polls
### By party

| Pollster | Date | PD | PS | AK | LSI | FRD | PDIU | Participation |
| Party polling |||||||||
| Kult | 8–14 December 2012 | 29.6% | 36.5% | 14.1% | 4.7% | 4.1% | | 71.0% |
| Gazeta Dita | 17–20 December 2012 | 31.0% | 37.1% | 6.5% | 6.6% | 5.3% | | |
| AlbStat | 28 December 2012 | 31.4% | 40.4% | 15.2% | 4.9% | 4.9% | | 77.1% |
| AlbStat | 21–28 January 2013 | 31.2% | 41.2% | 15.0% | 5.5% | 5.5% | | 77.5% |
| Kult | 22–31 January 2013 | 30.1% | 41.2% | 14.9% | 4.1% | 4.1% | | 75% |
| Soros | February 2013 | 22.7% | 19.6% | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 1.0% | 52.2% |
| Istituto Piepoli | May 2013 | 37.5% | 42.5% | 2.5% | 5% | 5% | | 797 |
| IPR Marketing | May/June 2013 | 38.5% | 40% | 2% | 6.3% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 1000 |
| Istituto Piepoli | June 2013 | 38% | 42.5% | 2.5% | 5.5% | 3.5% | | 1000 |

### By alliance

| Pollster | Date | APMI | ASHE | AK | FRD | Participation |
| Istituto Piepoli | May 2013 | 42.5% | 50.5% | 2.5% | 5% | 797 |
| IPR Marketing | May/June 2013 | 43% | 50% | 2% | 3.7% | 1,000 |
| Istituto Piepoli | June 2013 | 42.5% | 51% | 2.5% | 3.5% | 1,000 |
| NOA Agency | May 2013 | 58.8% | 41.2% | | | 8,177 |
| Albeu | May 2013 | 42.5% | 43.3% | 8.5% | 3.4% | 20,886 |
| Seats polling |||||||
| Pollster | Date | APMI | ASHE | AK | FRD | Participation |
| Istituto Piepoli | June 2013 | 66 | 73 | 0 | 1 | 1,000 |

## Conduct

The Central Election Commission was criticised for not replacing three of the seven member committee who had resigned in April following a dispute between the government and the opposition.
On election day, a shootout occurred in Laç resulting in the death of the LSI activist Gjon Pjeter Gjoni and injuring the PD candidate Mhill Fufi.

## Results

| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Socialist Party of Albania | 713,407 | 41.36 | 65 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Socialist Movement for Integration | 180,470 | 10.46 | 16 | +12 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Unity for Human Rights Party | 14,722 | 0.85 | 1 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Social Democracy Party of Albania | 11,891 | 0.69 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Social Democratic Party of Albania | 10,220 | 0.59 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | People's Alliance | 8,927 | 0.52 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Christian Democratic Party of Albania | 7,993 | 0.46 | 1 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Real Socialist Party 91 | 6,135 | 0.36 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Democratic Party for Integration and Prosperity | 4,550 | 0.26 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | National Arbëreshë Alliance | 3,575 | 0.21 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Moderated Socialist Party | 3,119 | 0.18 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | G99 | 2,977 | 0.17 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Law and Justice Party | 2,489 | 0.14 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Future Party | 2,284 | 0.13 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Party for the Defence of the Rights of the Emigrants | 2,275 | 0.13 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Social Labour Party | 2,174 | 0.13 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Green Party of Albania | 2,084 | 0.12 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Party of Democratic Reforms | 1,371 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Communist Party of Albania 8 November | 1,352 | 0.08 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Party of the Liberal Right Thought | 1,210 | 0.07 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Democratic Movement for Change | 1,159 | 0.07 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Labour Party | 955 | 0.06 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Christian Democratic Alliance | 905 | 0.05 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Communist Party of Albania | 901 | 0.05 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Path of Freedom Party | 808 | 0.05 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Alliance for Equality and European Justice | 728 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Reorganised Party of Labour of Albania | 623 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Homeland Party | 555 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian National Reconciliation Party | 545 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | National Unity Party | 513 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Movement for Justice | 508 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Republican Unon | 489 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Affairs Party | 476 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Party of Disabled People | 459 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Environmental Party | 452 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | Albanian Workers Movement Party | 316 | 0.02 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | | New Tolerance Party | 287 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for a European Albania | Total | Total | 993,904 | 57.63 | 83 | – |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Democratic Party of Albania | 528,373 | 30.63 | 50 | –18 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Republican Party of Albania | 52,168 | 3.02 | 3 | +2 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Party for Justice, Integration and Unity | 44,957 | 2.61 | 4 | +3 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Demochristian Party of Albania | 13,288 | 0.77 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Legality Movement Party | 6,089 | 0.35 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Movement for National Development | 5,429 | 0.31 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Albanian National Front Party | 4,868 | 0.28 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Party for the Future of the Greek Minority | 3,305 | 0.19 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Liberal Democratic Union | 2,681 | 0.16 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Environmentalist Agrarian Party | 2,640 | 0.15 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Albanian Emigration Party | 2,325 | 0.13 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | New Albania Movement | 2,320 | 0.13 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Democratic National Front Party | 2,242 | 0.13 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Democratic Alliance Party | 1,384 | 0.08 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Macedonian Alliance for European Integration | 1,229 | 0.07 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Albanian Christian Democratic Movement | 1,190 | 0.07 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Alliance for Democracy and Solidarity | 1,065 | 0.06 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | New European Democracy Party | 970 | 0.06 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Time of Albania | 770 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Party of the Real Albanian Path | 635 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Conservative Party | 633 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Albanian Democratic Union Party | 606 | 0.04 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Party of Denied Rights | 554 | 0.03 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | New Party of Denied Rights | 550 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | | Peoples Union of Albanian Retirees Party | 406 | 0.02 | 0 | New |
| | Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration | Total | Total | 680,677 | 39.46 | 57 | – |
| | New Democratic Spirit | New Democratic Spirit | New Democratic Spirit | 29,310 | 1.70 | 0 | New |
| | Red and Black Alliance | Red and Black Alliance | Red and Black Alliance | 10,196 | 0.59 | 0 | New |
| | League for Justice and Progress | League for Justice and Progress | League for Justice and Progress | 1,068 | 0.06 | 0 | New |
| | Christian Democratic People's Party of Albania | Christian Democratic People's Party of Albania | Christian Democratic People's Party of Albania | 416 | 0.02 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | Independents | Independents | 9,208 | 0.53 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 1,724,779 | 100.00 | 140 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,724,779 | 98.61 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 24,279 | 1.39 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,749,058 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,271,885 | 53.46 | | |
| Source: CEC, CEC ||||||||

### By county

| County | County | Socialist | Socialist | Socialist | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | LSI | LSI | LSI | PDIU | PDIU | PDIU | Republican | Republican | Republican | Other parties | Other parties | Other parties |
| County | Seats | Votes | % | S | Votes | % | S | Votes | % | S | Votes | % | S | Votes | % | S | Votes | % | S |
| Berat | 8 | 42,897 | 46.94% | 4 | 19,022 | 20.81% | 2 | 21,549 | 23.58% | 2 | 783 | 0.86% | 0 | 1,962 | 2.15% | 0 | 5,183 | 5.67% | 0 |
| Dibër | 6 | 25,103 | 33.66% | 2 | 30,137 | 40.41% | 3 | 10,019 | 13.43% | 1 | 248 | 0.33% | 0 | 2,219 | 2.98% | 0 | 6,856 | 9.19% | 0 |
| Durrës | 13 | 60,833 | 39.24% | 6 | 52,703 | 34.00% | 5 | 11,605 | 7.49% | 1 | 3,785 | 2.44% | 0 | 10,519 | 6.79% | 1 | 15,586 | 10.05% | 0 |
| Elbasan | 14 | 75,086 | 43.26% | 6 | 46,788 | 29.96% | 4 | 18,484 | 10.65% | 2 | 12,110 | 6.98% | 1 | 6,266 | 3.61% | 1 | 14,842 | 8.55% | 0 |
| Fier | 16 | 89,637 | 44.18% | 9 | 46,374 | 22.86% | 4 | 19,677 | 9.70% | 2 | 9,058 | 4.46% | 1 | 3,881 | 1.91% | 0 | 34,235 | 16.87% | 0 |
| Gjirokastër | 5 | 25,148 | 42.36% | 3 | 13,509 | 22.76% | 1 | 11,534 | 19.43% | 1 | 196 | 0.33% | 0 | 2,642 | 4.45% | 0 | 6,332 | 10.67% | 0 |
| Korçë | 12 | 63,584 | 43.50% | 6 | 47,061 | 32.20% | 5 | 14,416 | 9.86% | 1 | 1,440 | 0.99% | 0 | 4,442 | 3.03% | 0 | 15,216 | 10.41% | 0 |
| Kukës | 4 | 11,384 | 24.32% | 1 | 22,428 | 47.91% | 3 | 5,648 | 12.06% | 0 | 541 | 1.16% | 0 | 2,397 | 5.12% | 0 | 4,419 | 9.44% | 0 |
| Lezhë | 7 | 26,433 | 32.90% | 2 | 31,605 | 39.34% | 4 | 8,820 | 10.98% | 1 | 594 | 0.74% | 0 | 1,388 | 1.73% | 0 | 11,503 | 14.32% | 0 |
| Shkodër | 11 | 37,984 | 31.12% | 4 | 45,799 | 37.53% | 5 | 12,772 | 10.46% | 1 | 247 | 0.20% | 0 | 4,930 | 4.04% | 0 | 20,312 | 16.65% | 1 |
| Tiranë | 32 | 198,837 | 44.05% | 16 | 151,472 | 33.56% | 11 | 35,394 | 7.84% | 3 | 9,173 | 2.03% | 1 | 10,561 | 2.34% | 1 | 45,970 | 10.18% | 0 |
| Vlorë | 12 | 56,481 | 46.62% | 6 | 21,475 | 17.72% | 3 | 10,552 | 8.71% | 1 | 6,782 | 5.60% | 1 | 981 | 0.81% | 0 | 24,890 | 20.54% | 1 |
| Albania | Albania | 713,407 | 41.36% | 65 | 528,373 | 30.63% | 50 | 180,470 | 10.46% | 16 | 44,957 | 2.61% | 4 | 52,168 | 3.02% | 3 | 205,404 | 11.91% | 2 |

## Aftermath

Early on election day both Sali Berisha and Edi Rama claimed victory. On 25 June, Edi Rama gave his victory speech saying, "I will be your prime minister, but also your prime servant. The duty will be mine; the authority will be yours." On 26 June, after vote counting was finally complete, the outgoing Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, publicly accepted the result, took responsibility for the loss, resigned from his functions in the Democratic Party, and wished his opponent well in his new duties.