The May 11 elections placed candidates for deputies, some on an open list and some on a closed list. The latter did not compete because they were not subject to preferential voting, but it was different for those who were included in the open list.
The candidates had to put up a tough fight as the count showed that even one vote was worth it as it could change the outcome.
Meanwhile, 22 incumbent MPs have lost the race.
Pandeli Majko – He has had a rich political career where he has held the positions of Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Diaspora. Majko has been elected as a member of parliament for the Socialist Party in 8 legislatures, but in the next Assembly he failed to win a seat. He received 6736 votes.
Lulzim Basha – Former Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha failed to win a seat in the Assembly through the Euro-Atlantic Coalition in these elections. Basha managed to collect only 1,529 votes on May 11.
Ilir Meta – He is an exception to the other names on this list as he is not an MP, but is undoubtedly an “elephant” of politics. The former Prime Minister, former President and former Speaker of Parliament failed to win the mandate of MP in the Tirana District. He won 7981 votes. From prison, where he has been since October 2024, he said that he cannot accept “any gimmick or pragmatic solution that goes against the major causes” for which he has fought and will always fight.
Mimi Kodheli – She has been elected 4 times as a member of the Assembly since 2009. Kodheli held the position of Minister of Defense in the first term of the Rama government. On May 11, she received 4,351 votes.
Xhemal Qefalia – Former soldier, former head of several institutions in the Ministry of Justice, has been a deputy of the Albanian Parliament in several legislatures. In these elections, he fought hard with Ornaldo Rakipi, but failed to win the seat in the Parliament. He received 9950 votes. He is among the candidates who have requested the CEC to provide video footage of the vote counting.
Blerina Gjylameti – She failed to win a seat in the Assembly against Olta Xhaçka. She garnered 4,148 votes on May 11, while Xhaçka only received 140 more. Gjylameti has also requested video footage of the vote counting from the CEC.
Ermonela Felaj (Valikaj) – Former Minister of State for Parliamentary Relations and Deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament. On May 11, she received 4,550 votes.
Etilda Gjonaj – Former Minister of Justice, Gjonaj collected 5,569 votes in these elections. She has also requested video footage of the vote counting.
Klotilda Bushka – Bushka has been a member of the Assembly since 2017. In this election, she collected 3,088 votes.
Arben Pëllumbi – Arben Pëllumbi has been a member of the Assembly since 2017. On May 11, he received 1,958 votes.
Edona Bilali – She was elected as a member of parliament for the first time in the 2021 elections. In these elections, despite being the first on the open list in Shkodra, she was unable to enter the Assembly. The Socialists won 4 mandates, as many as they were assigned on the closed list, not giving Bilali a seat in parliament, despite the 9924 votes received.
Toni Gogu – Became a member of parliament in the 2021 elections. On May 11, he received 6,680 votes.
Etjen Xhafaj – He received a mandate in the Albanian Parliament in the 2021 elections. In these elections, he collected 1196 votes.
Enslemvera Zake – Member of Parliament since 2021 from the Korça district. She fought hard until the end with her socialist colleague Besa Spaho, but in the end she did not succeed. She received 7361 votes.
Florenc Spaho – Has been a member of parliament since 2019 in Elbasan. He collected 3095 votes.
Ilir Ndraxhi – Member of Parliament in the Albanian Parliament since 2017 from Durrës District. He received 8241 votes.
Plarent Ndreca – Sworn into the Assembly as a deputy in 2024, succeeding the mandate of former Minister of Finance Arben Ahmetaj. He received 4938 votes in the elections.
Edmond Spaho – Member of Parliament since 2013. He has also held the position of Deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament. In these elections, he received 2995 votes.
Andia Ulliri – Elected as a member of parliament in 2021. She received 6,001 votes on May 11.
Qani Xhafa – Became a member of parliament in 2023 after Luçiano Boçi left office to run in the local elections in Elbasan. He received 6444 votes on May 11.
Kreshnik Çollaku – Became a member of parliament in the 2021 elections. He received 1468 votes on May 11.
Lodovik Hasani – Democratic Party MP since 2021. On May 11, he received 1914 votes.