Addressing the SP’s National Assembly in the city of Durres, PM Rama welcomed the 135 new Assembly members, who attended this high-level party forum for first time.

The government head said that today’s meeting marked the beginning of “a new chapter in the life of the Socialist family,” adding that the National Assembly also serve as a stage to conclude the internal process of electing new members to the SP’s leadership that will lead the party in the parliamentary elections next spring, when the Socialists will seek a fourth consecutive term in office.

Rama announced that majority of current Socialist lawmakers, including him, will run under the party’s open candidate list in the 2025 parliamentary elections.

“This time, in compliance with the new electoral law, 140 out of 187 candidates from our team will be included on the open candidate list and only 47 of them will be on the open list,” PM Rama said.

“I would like to share with you the idea that it would be best for Socialist MPs with more than one mandate, including the regional party leaders and me, run as part of open candidate list like everyone else,” PM Rama said.

Rama noted that experienced parliamentarians would race in the open list, while the closed list would be reserved for those holding specific roles.

Albania’s electoral code was changed in July, with the amendments including a major overhaul of the candidate list system. Under the new rules, 1/3 of the parliamentary candidate list would be closed, with party leaders making the final selections. The remaining 2/3 would be open for internal competition, allowing candidates to vie for votes within their parties.

/u.sh/