Albanian parliamentary election, 2009

Albanian parliamentary election, 2009

28 June 2009

All 140 seats to the Assembly of the Republic of Albania 71 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   Leader Sali Berisha Edi Rama Ilir Meta Party Democratic Socialist LSI Last election 56 seats 42 seats 5 seats Seats won 68 65 4 Seat change 12 23 1 Popular vote 610,463 620,586 73678 Percentage 40.18% 40.85% 4.85%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Fatmir Mediu Skënder Gjinushi Vangjel Dule Party PR PSD PBDNJ Last election 11 seats 7 seats 2 seats Seats won 1 0 1 Seat change 10 7 1 Popular vote 31,990 26,700 18,078 Percentage 2.11% 1.76% 1.19%

Prime Minister before election Sali Berisha Democratic Elected Prime Minister Sali Berisha Democratic

Politics of Albania
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Albania
Constitution Human rights
Legislature Parliament Chairperson: Ilir Meta Committees Members Leaders Edi Paloka (PD) Gramoz Ruçi (PS) Petrit Vasili (LSI) Leader of the Opposition Lulzim Basha
Judiciary Constitutional Court Administrative Court Court of Justice (ordinary) Supreme Court
Executive President (List) Bujar Nishani Prime Minister (List) Edi Rama Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi Cabinet
Administrative divisions Counties Municipalities Cities Villages
Elections Recent elections Presidential 2007 2012 2017 Parliamentary 2005 2009 2013 Local 2007 2011 2015 Referendums 1994 1997 1998 Political parties Parliamentary PD PS LSI PDIU FRD PR PBDNJ Others PGJ AK PLL PDK PBK
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Ditmir Bushati Diplomatic missions of Albania in Albania International participation United Nations Permrep: Ferit Hoxha European Union Ambassador: M. Halimi NATO Permrep: Artur Kuko OIC Ambassador: A. Banaj
Other countries Atlas

A parliamentary election was held in Albania on 28 June 2009. No alliance achieved 71 deputies on its own needed to form a parliamentary majority, hence to form the new government the Democratic party and Socialist Movement for Integration joined forces.

Electoral System

The 140 members of Parliament were elected in twelve multi-member constituencies analogous to the country's twelve counties. Within the constituencies, seats are elected by closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of 3% for parties and 5% for alliances.^[1]

Seats are allocated to alliances using the d'Hondt system, then to political parties using the Sainte-Laguë method.^[2]

Background

Prior to the election, the electoral law was changed to a regional and proportional system.^[3][4] Polls from March and April 2009 saw a very close race, with both the governing Democratic Party of Albania and the opposition Socialist Party of Albania around 37%, with minor parties like the Socialist Movement for Integration, the G99 Movement, the Unity for Human Rights Party and the Republican Party of Albania in the low single digits.^[5]

Shortly before the election, the ethnic Greek Unity for Human Rights Party switched their allegiance, abandoning their alliance with the Democratic Party of Albania to join the Socialist Party of Albania.^[6] The Party for Justice and Integration, a party representing the interest of ethnic Albanians whose properties in Greece were seized after WW2, joined the coalition Alliance of Change.

Alliances

This election saw a total of 33 parties organized in four alliances, one party running on its own and one independent candidate.^[7]

• Alliance of Change (Aleance e Ndryshimit), was a center-right coalition made up from 16 parties and led by Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
• Union for Change (Bashkimi për Ndryshim), was a coalition made up from 5 center-left and left winged Parties, led by that-time Mayor of Tirana Edi Rama.
• Socialist Alliance for Integration (Alenaca Socialiste për Integrim), was a coalition made up from 6 center-left and liberal parties, led by former Prime Minister Ilir Meta.
• Pole of Freedom (Poli i Lirisë), was a conservative coalition made up from 6 right winged parties, led by former Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi.

Results

National level

Summary of the 28 June 2009 Assembly of the Republic of Albania election results

Regional Level

The electorate was split in twelve regions, in a regional proportional system, each of which elected a specific number of Members of Parliament (deputet). The following table details the regional results going from North to South.

Aftermath

Initially the PD led coalition interred into discussions about dividing up the various cabinet posts.^[8]

While it was still unclear whether the PD-led alliance held 70 or 71 seats, the leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) announced on 4 July 2009 that he had accepted Berisha's invitation to form a government with the PD and stated he wanted to be a stabilising factor in Albania's path towards European Union membership.^[9] With the addition of the four seats from LSI, the coalition had the necessary majority to form a government.^[9] Nonetheless, in November 2010, the EU in its "Key findings of the Opinion on Albania" found that the political stalemate since the June 2009 elections was a significant barrier to Albania's candidacy for European Union membership.^[10]

References

Elections and referendums in Albania
Parliamentary elections	1921 1923 1924 1928 1945 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1987 1991 1992 1996 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017
Local elections	1992 1996 2000 2003 2007 2011 2013 2015
Referendums	1994 1997 1998

Parliamentary elections of the Albanian Presidents
1925 1991 1992 1996 1997 2002 2007 2012 Next

Albania articles
History	Illyrians Albanoi Amantini Enchele Taulantii Middle Ages (1190–1385) Principality of Arbanon Kingdom of Albania Despotate of Arta Ottoman Period (1385–1912) Skanderbeg's rebellion League of Lezhë Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini Islamization of Albania Albanian Pashaliks Massacre of the Albanian Beys Revolts of 1833–39 Uprising of Dervish Cara Albanian National Awakening League of Prizren Congress of Manastir Revolt of 1910 Independence (1912–present) Provisional Government of Albania Albania during the Balkan Wars Republic of Central Albania Principality of Albania (1914–25) Albania during World War I Italian protectorate Vlora War Republic of Mirdita Albanian Republic (1925–28) Albanian Kingdom (1928–39) Italian Fascist occupation German Nazi occupation Albanian resistance during World War II Communist Albania (1946–91) Orthography Congress (1972) Post-Communist Albania 1997 Civil unrest NATO membership EU Accession See also Origins Timeline Archives
Geography	Landscape Mountains Rivers Lakes and lagoons Islands Environment Climate Biodiversity Habitat Protected areas
Politics	Government Parliament Heads of State Political parties Elections Foreign relations Treaties Visa policy Administration Cities Municipalities Counties Subdivisions NUTS regions Judiciary Constitution Corruption EURALIUS Human rights Abortion Capital punishment LGBT Ombudsman Security Military Police Organized crime Prisons Border crossings
Economy	Banking Central bank Lek (currency) Taxation Trade unions Retail Shopping malls Supermarkets Industry Agriculture Healthcare Companies Energy Hydropower plants Wind farms Solar power Natural resources Oil and gas Mining Infrastructure Roads Aviation Maritime Railways Bridges Tunnels Highrises Telecommunications Postal services Tourism Riviera National parks Castles Museums Monuments Lighthouses Images of Albania
Society	People Demographics Clans Noble families Diaspora Culture Art (galleries) Architecture Photography Education Alphabet scripts Language Literature Libraries Universities Proverbs Tradition Mythology Besa Religion Sworn virgins Costumes Qeleshe Fustanella Xhubleta Brez Opinga Tirq Xhamadan Cuisine Gjellë Tavë kosi Fërgesë Kabuni Raki Beer Wine Cognac Skënderbeu Restaurant chains Sports Football National team Clubs Players Stadiums Other sports Weightlifting Basketball Volleyball Swimming Olympics Athletes Entertainment Music Television Radio Cinema Symbols Flag Coat of arms Gestures Sign language Awards Logos .al Other Public holidays Smoking
Outline Index Bibliography Book Category Portal