Albania’s ruling Socialist Party is marking the 35th anniversary of its founding on Friday with a series of celebrations culminating in a major gathering in central Tirana.

The party, established in 1991 following the collapse of the country’s communist regime, has organized commemorative events across several major cities before concluding the anniversary celebrations in the square outside the National Arena Stadium in the capital.

The event opened with an emotional video tribute featuring archival speeches from Fatos Nano, one of the party’s most influential historical leaders and a former prime minister of Albania. The presentation highlighted key moments in the party’s political journey over the past three and a half decades.

Thousands of supporters are expected to attend the celebration, which comes as the Socialist Party continues its more than decade-long tenure in government, having remained in power since 2013 under Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The anniversary event is taking place amid heightened political activity in the capital, with opposition supporters also expected to gather for a protest elsewhere in Tirana later in the day.

The Socialist Party remains Albania’s largest governing political force and has dominated the country’s political landscape for much of the past decade, while continuing to face criticism and challenges from opposition parties over governance, corruption, and democratic standards.