Albanian parliamentary election, 2005

Albanian parliamentary election, 2005
Albania
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 Increase10 Decrease31 Increase11
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 Increase3 Increase5 Increase1
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 Albania602,06644.156104,7967.7056+10
Socialist Party of Albania538,90639.442121,4128.9042-31
Socialist Movement for Integration112,4498.21114,7988.445New
Republican Party of Albania113,3568.30272,74620.01111New
Social Democratic Party of Albania0174,10312.777+3
New Democratic Party0101,3737.444+1
Environmentalist Agrarian Party089,6356.644+1
Democratic Alliance Party065,0934.8330
Social Democracy Party of Albania057,9984.222New
Unity for Human Rights Party056,4034.122-1
National Movement - King Zogu I047,9673.500New
Demochristian Party of Albania044,5763.322+2
National Front022,8961.700New
Party for Justice and Integration016,0121.200New
Liberal Democratic Union014,4181.111New
Party of Labour of Albania09,2920.700New
Freedom and Human Rights Movements09,0270.700New
Communist Party of Albania08,9370.700New
Democratic National Front Party07,6320.600New
Albanian Democratic Union Party07,3710.5000
Albanian Socialist Alliance Party06,6040.500New
Alliance for Welfare and Solidarity05,0590.400New
Social Albanian Parties – National Unity Party03,2600.200New
Albanian Democratic Party for a New Right Democracy01,7940.100New
Albanian Green League01,7100.100New
Albanian Democratic Monarchist Movement Party07740.100New
Albanian National Security Party05700.100New
Independents11-1
Invalid/blank votes 21,973
Total1,366,7771001001,367,347100401400
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
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