Belgrade, 11 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Albanian voters are called to the polls on Sunday to elect a new parliament.

The Socialist Party (PS) of Prime Minister Edi Rama is considered the clear favourite. Recent opinion polls give it up to 49% of the vote.

Its strongest opponent is the conservative Democratic Party (PD) of political veteran and former president Sali Berisha. Pollsters see it at around 35%.

Since the end of communism more than three decades ago, the small Balkan country on the Adriatic Sea has been strongly polarised between the PS (former communists) and the PD.

Rama has been in power since 2013. He has been re-elected twice since then.

Albania, which has been a member of NATO since 2009, has also been negotiating EU accession since 2022. Observers have recently noted some progress in the fight against corruption.

Polling stations open at 7 am and close at 7 pm. The first results are expected on Sunday evening. In addition, the results of exit polls are likely to be available after the polls close.