The ruling Socialist Party (SP/PS) of Albania, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, won 51.8 percent of the vote in today's parliamentary elections in the country, according to exit poll data reported by the “Albanian Post“, NOVA reported.
This gives the Socialists 79 seats in the 140-member parliament.
In second place, according to the exit poll, is the coalition around the main opposition party - the Democratic Party (DP/PD) of Albania, led by former Prime Minister and President of the country Sali Berisha - the – Alliance for a Magnificent Albania&rdash; (ABA/ASHM) coalition. It is projected to receive 38 percent of the vote, or 54 seats.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP/PSD) of Albania, led by Tom Doshi, received 2.2 percent, giving it 3 seats.
The "Possibility" Party (PV/PM) of former DP member Agron Shehai received 3.6 percent, but will have only two seats due to its concentration of votes mainly in Tirana and its dispersion in other regions.
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The "Together" Movement (DZ/LB) of Arlind Çori barely passes the electoral threshold and will receive one mandate, but Çori himself will remain outside parliament.
The Euro-Atlantic Coalition (EAC/KEA) of Endri Hasa and former DP leader Lulzim Basha is projected to receive 1.4 percent of the vote, with Basha becoming an MP.
The "Albania Becomes" (IAS/NSHB) coalition of Adriatic Lapaj and Endrit Shabani has 1.8 percent nationally, but will have no representatives in parliament.
According to the new electoral formula, each party participates in the elections with 186 candidates for MPs, divided into closed lists (arranged by party) with 46 people each and open lists (where voting is done with preferences) with 140 people each.