Albania is a parliamentary republic that embarked on a path of democratic reform after the fall of Europe’s harshest totalitarian regime in 1990. It has managed to get rid of almost complete isolation under communism and has gradually integrated itself into international structures. In 2009 it joined the NATO and is also a candidate for EU membership.
The unicameral Parliament has 140 members elected for four years. The executive branch is headed by a government, with a president elected by parliament to perform more ceremonial functions.
Since the 1991 elections, in which more than one party was allowed to take part for the first time since 1923, Albanian politics has been dominated by two political parties. The first is the Socialist Party (PS), which is the successor to the communist Party of Labour and geographically has support mainly in the south of the country. The second is the conservative Democratic Party (PD), which relies predominantly on voters in the north.
Like elsewhere in the Balkans, there are deep divisions between political factions with the main cleavage being regional differences (north vs. south) and views on the communist past. A huge obstacle to the country’s development is corruption, lack of rule of law, insufficiently independent judiciary and media or politicians’ links to the mafia.
But in the last more than a decade, Albanian politics has been more than stable. The socialist prime minister Edi Rama has established himself as the unquestioned leader of the country and a respected partner abroad. The divided opposition stages street protests against the Rama government accusing it of corruption, but these are far from being able to change the status quo.
In general, Albania has come a huge way forward politically since the fall of communism. It started from zero, with almost no experience of a functioning pluralist system. Now it is a stable country whose population and political representation, both in power and opposition, are broadly united in their desire to integrate into Western structures. The EU has acknowledged the progress and started accession talks with Albania in 2022.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Explore diverse, reliable accommodations in Albania with Booking.com, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Flights
Find the cheapest flights to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
Airalo provides affordable and convenient mobile data to keep you connected wherever you travel. Forget local SIM or roaming charges.
Experiences
Viator.com offers a way to book diverse tours and activities in Albania, providing access to trusted local partners.