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Socialist Party of Albania

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The Socialist Party of Albania (Albanian: Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë, PS or PSSh) is a social-democratic[1][3] political party in Albania.[4] It has been described as centre-left.[5][6][7] It is the inheriting force of the Communist Party of Albania, which was founded on 8 November 1941 and later became known as the Party of Labour of Albania (Partia e Punës e Shqipërisë). After the fall of communism in Albania, the Party of Labour of Albania rebranded itself as the Socialist Party of Albania in an effort to adapt to the new political landscape. This is the reason why the Socialist Party is claimed to have been founded on 13 June 1991.[8] The PS is an associate of the Party of European Socialists[9] and a member of the Socialist International,[10] and it claims to hold pro-European views.[11][12]

Socialist Party of Albania
Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë
AbbreviationPS, SP[1]
ChairmanEdi Rama[1]
Leader of the Parliamentary GroupBledar Çuçi
General SecretaryBlendi Klosi
Founded13 June 1991
Preceded byParty of Labour of Albania
HeadquartersSheshi Austria 4, 1001 Tirana
NewspaperZëri i Popullit
Youth wingEuro-Socialist Youth Forum
Membership (2024)93,000[2]
IdeologySocial democracy
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-left
European affiliationParty of European Socialists (associate)
International affiliationSocialist International
ColoursRed[a]
Green[a]
Purple (customary)[b]
SloganPër Shqipërinë që duam ("For the Albania that We Want")
National Assembly
75 / 140
Municipality
54 / 61
Council Seats
757 / 1,613
Party flag
Website
ps.al

History

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Party headquarters in Tirana

Established in 1991, the Socialist Party of Albania emerged in the aftermath of the fall of communism in Albania that had dominated Albanian politics since the end of World War II. The dissolution of the People's Socialist Republic prompted a reevaluation of political ideologies and a quest for democratic governance, paving the way for the rise of multiple political entities. The roots of the Socialist Party can be traced back to the Party of Labour of Albania under its founder Enver Hoxha, which had been the ruling party for over four decades. Hoxha's successor Ramiz Alia was forced to introduce limited reforms in the late 1980s. On 11 December 1990, Alia announced that the PPSh had given up its monopoly of power. The PPSh won the 1991 Albanian Constitutional Assembly election, the first free elections held in the country in almost 80 years. By this time, it was no longer a Marxist–Leninist party. At an extraordinary congress on 10–13 June 1991, the PPSh voted to change its name to the PS in an effort to survive in the new system.[13]

Fatos Nano, a man from the intelligentsia, was elected the new chairman.[14] Nano helped to reform the old Communist party and made it a member of the Socialist International. A faction of the party, led by Ilir Meta, split away from the PS in 2004 and formed the Socialist Movement for Integration (Lëvizja Socialiste për Integrim, LSI).[15]

On 10 October 2005, Nano resigned as the chairman of the PS after losing the 2005 Albanian parliamentary election, and was succeeded by Edi Rama.[16] Under Rama's lead, the PS formed the Alliance for a European Albania, which united several political parties. The alliance won the 2013 Albanian parliamentary election, thus returning the Socialists to the government after 8 years.[17]

The Socialist Party, now running alone, again won the 2017 election and the 2021 election, winning 74 seats in both of them and is thus currently able to rule Albania alone, although it is externally supported by the Social Democratic Party in parliament.[18]

Political positions

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In its 2013 party platform, the party has pledged to replace the flat tax with a progressive tax, and also supports universal health care.[19] Party leader Edi Rama has indicated that he supports LGBT rights in Albania.[20] The party is also pro-European, supports the accession of Albania to the European Union,[21] NATO membership,[22] and considers Kosovo "Albania's main strategic partner and ally".[23] Rama has also said that he strives to follow the Third Way approach of former British prime minister Tony Blair.

Organisation

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Logos

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The current logo is based on the fist and rose logo in the version created by José María Cruz Novillo for the Spanish Socialist Workers Party in 1977. The PS logo is used without official consent and agreement with PSOE.[24]

  •  
    2013–2023

Party leaders

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No. President Born–died Term start Term end Time in office
1 Fatos Nano   (born 1952) 13 June 1991 10 October 2005 14 years, 119 days
2 Edi Rama   (born 1964) 10 October 2005 Incumbent 19 years, 44 days

Electoral performance

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Parliamentary elections

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Election Votes % Seats +/– Rank Government
1992 433,602 23.87
38 / 140
   131[c]   2nd[c] Opposition
1996 335,402 20.37
10 / 140
   28   2nd Opposition
1997 413,369 52.75
101 / 155
   97   1st Majority
2001 555,272 42.27
73 / 140
   28   1st Majority
2005 538,906 39.44
42 / 140
   31   2nd Opposition
2009 620,586 40.85
65 / 140
   23   1st[25] Opposition
2013 713,407 41.36
65 / 140
     1st Coalition
2017 764,761 48.19
74 / 140
   9   1st Majority
2021 768,177 48.68
74 / 140
     1st Majority

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Used in the party logo and flag.
  2. ^ Used by the Albanian government in their parliamentary diagrams.
  3. ^ a b The Socialist Party is a successor of the former Communist Party.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "European Election Watch Albania". Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  2. ^ https://tvklan.al/rezulat-pozitiv-32-mije-anetare-te-rinj-te-ps-rama-ne-asamblene-e-ps-te-miratojme-mbajtjen-e-kongresit-me-20-korrik [bare URL]
  3. ^ Slomp, Hans (2011). Europe, a Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. p. 605. ISBN 978-0-313-39181-1.
  4. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (April 2021). "Albania". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  5. ^ "Albania opposition protests again, calls for new election". CityNews Vancouver. 2 June 2019. The centre-right Democratic Party-led opposition supporters gathered Sunday at the main government building accusing centre-left Socialist Party Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption and links to organized crime.
  6. ^ "Albania protests: Smoke bombs and firecrackers thrown at police as demonstrations turn violent". The Independent. 3 June 2019. Prime Minister Edi Rama has faced repeated calls to stand down in recent months over claims that his centre-left Socialist Party is corrupt and has links to organised crime.
  7. ^ "Will the Presence of Iran's MEK Threaten Albania's Already Shaky Stability?". World Politics Review. 18 July 2019. Rama's center-left Socialist Party holds a majority in Parliament, while the opposition is made up of parties to his left and right.
  8. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010), Historical Dictionary of Albania. Scarecrow Press. p. 422.
  9. ^ "Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë". Party of European Socialists. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Full list of member parties and organisations". Socialist International. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Strategic Partnership with Kosovo". Socialist Party. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  12. ^ "The Albanian Electoral Systems since 1990" (PDF). Albanian Elections Observatory Brief (1). 19 April 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  13. ^ Elsie, pxliii
  14. ^ Nano, Rexhina. "Te jetosh kohen", pp. 230.
  15. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 422. ISBN 978-0-8108-6188-6.
  16. ^ "Fitorja dhe sfidat e Edi Ramës" [Victory and challenges of Edi Rama] (in Albanian). BBCAlbanian.com. 10 October 2005.
  17. ^ "Violence mars Albania's general election". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  18. ^ "Elections in Albania: Preliminary results show PM Rama's party wins". N1 (in Serbian). 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  19. ^ "KUJDES SHËNDETËSOR UNIVERSAL – Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë". Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Rama pret përfaqësuesit e LGBT: Po bashkëjetesës, por jo martesave". www.panorama.com.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  21. ^ "CILËSI DHE RITËM NË PROCESIN E INTEGRIMIT NË BE". www.ps.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  22. ^ "RESPEKTIM I ANGAZHIMEVE NË NATO". www.ps.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  23. ^ "PARTNERITET STRATEGJIK ME KOSOVËN". www.ps.al (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  24. ^ "El Partido Socialista de Albania plagia el logo del PSOE de Cruz Novillo". Gràffica (in Spanish). 30 August 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  25. ^ "National results of the 2009 parliamentary election (party list)" (PDF). ShtetiWeb.org.
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