2019 Albanian local elections

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2019 Albanian Local Elections

| type = Local

| country = Albania

| seats_for_election =

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2015 Albanian local elections

| previous_year = 2015

| next_election = 2023 Albanian local elections

| next_year = 2023

| election_date = {{Start date|2019|06|30|df= y}}

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File:Harta e Bashkive.svg

Local elections were held in Albania held on 30 June 2019. Voters were asked to elect mayors, municipal council members, municipal unit mayors and municipal unit members. These were the second local elections in Albania since substantial administrative reforms legislated in 2014 reduced the number of municipalities in the country to 61.

The Central Election Commission of Albania was responsible for administrating the elections.

Background

Following months of political crisis, opposition parties promised to not participate in the election, accusing the government and the Prime Minister of vote buying, voter intimidation and links with criminal organizations which had contributed to the Socialist Party's majority in previous elections.

The President originally attempted to postpone the elections, instead opting to hold them on October 13 after many protests were held by opposition parties, some of which turned violent. The postponement was, however, not accepted by the government and the CEC, which decided to continue with the process on the original date.{{Cite web|url=https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2019/06/10/albanias-president-meta-postpones-local-elections-protests-continue/|title=Albania's President Meta postpones local elections, protests continue|date=10 June 2019}}

The Socialists ran uncontested in 31 municipalities, facing smaller parties and independent candidates in the other 30 municipalities, including the newly formed {{Lang|sq|Bindja Demokratike}}, resulting in an absolute win by the Socialists in all municipalities except Finiq,{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/disputed-election-leaves-albania-democracy-tatters-190701195743565.html|title = A disputed election leaves Albania's democracy in tatters}} and the Socialists gaining the most votes in all city council elections except Finiq and Pukë.

In most areas, turnout was low, ranging between under 10% in Shkodra to around 38% in Librazhd. Only one municipality, Pustec, was outside of this range, and had a turnout of over 50%.

Parties and coalitions

Following the decision of the Albanian opposition to not run in the elections, the incumbent Socialist Party and their alliance faced very little competition in most municipalities, only having to counter small parties and independents.

The Democratic Party opted to not partake in the elections, following several months of protests.{{Cite news |date=2019-06-30 |title=Albania votes amid opposition boycott |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48763803 |access-date=2023-02-05}}{{Cite web |title=Polls close in Albania municipal election boycotted by opposition |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/6/30/polls-close-in-albania-municipal-election-boycotted-by-opposition |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}

class="wikitable"

!Number

!Party

!Acronym

!Chairman

!Coalition

|Fryma e Re Demokratike

|FRD

|Bamir Topi

|–

|Partia Demokracia e Re Europiane

|PDRE

|Koci Tahiri

|Shpresa për Ndryshim

|Partia Balli Kombëtar Shqiptar

|PBK

|Adriatik Alimadhi

|Shpresa për Ndryshim

|Partia Bashkimi Liberal Demokrat

|BLD

|Arian Starova

|Shpresa për Ndryshim

|Aleanca Kuq e Zi

|AK

|Lumturi Ratkoceri

|Shpresa për Ndryshim

|Partia Ora e Shqiperise

|POSH

|Zef Shtjefni

|Shpresa për Ndryshim

|Partia Emigracionit Shqiptar

|PESH

|Kostaq Papa

|Shpresa për Ndryshim

|Partia Komuniste e Shqipërisë

|PKSH

|Qemal Cicollari

|–

|Partia Personat me Aftesi te Kufizuar

|PPAK

|Gjovalin Shqalshi

|–

|Aleanca për Barazi dhe Drejtësi Europiane

|ABDE

|Valentino Mustaka