Partial results from Albania’s parliamentary election show the ruling Socialist Party in the lead, positioning Prime Minister Edi Rama for a potential fourth consecutive term.

Albania’s ruling Socialist Party is leading in the country’s parliamentary election, according to preliminary results released on Monday, setting the stage for Prime Minister Edi Rama to secure a fourth term in office.

With 30% of the ballots counted, the Socialist Party had secured 53% of the vote, significantly ahead of the Democratic Party, led by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, which had 34%, the Central Election Commission reported.

Edi Rama, who has been in office since 2013, remains the frontrunner, benefiting from over a decade of political consolidation, a record of economic growth, and a strong international profile. His campaign focused heavily on Albania’s EU accession aspirations, with a goal of joining the bloc by 2030 - a target some analysts view as ambitious.

Should the current trend hold, Rama would receive a mandate to continue reforms and maintain the country’s EU-oriented trajectory. The election also marked a historic moment as, for the first time, around 200,000 Albanians living abroad participated in the vote.

Rama’s previous term was marked by political unrest, allegations of corruption, and tensions with the opposition. However, his continued support among voters appears to reflect confidence in the country’s direction.

"The winner is the one that was expected," said Haxhi Koleci, a local pensioner. "They’ve done well so far; we’ve come a long way since 2013."

Final results are expected to be announced by Tuesday.

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