Albanians head to the polls on Sunday, with Prime Minister Edi Rama vying for an unprecedented fourth term. His Socialist Party has campaigned on an ambitious pledge to secure EU membership within five years, a promise echoing throughout a boisterous campaign marked by clashes with conservative rivals.
The election has been injected with a dose of unpredictability. For the first time, Albanians abroad are eligible to vote, adding a new dimension to the political landscape. Emerging parties, a surge in social media campaigning, and even a recent TikTok ban have further stirred the pot. Mr Rama's opponents have enlisted a high-profile US strategist to bolster their efforts.
