Albania Socialists win election, can govern without partner
TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s left-wing Socialist Party has secured a second mandate in a general election, winning a majority of seats in parliament, election results showed Tuesday.
The election was seen as a key benchmark in the country’s bid to launch membership negotiations with the European Union.
The Central Election Commission said that with all the ballots counted, the governing Socialists of Prime Minister Edi Rama had won 74 places in the 140-seat parliament.
Thousands of Socialist supporters gathered at Tirana’s recently renovated Skanderbeg Square to celebrate the victory.