Albania’s two main political parties, the ruling Socialist Party (SP) and the opposition Democratic Party (DP), are expected to hold talks today within the framework of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, as the country prepares for local elections scheduled for May 9, 2027.

The committee’s co-chairs, Damian Gjiknuri of the Socialist Party and Oerd Bylykbashi of the Democratic Party, agreed following a series of meetings to convene on Monday morning to discuss legal obligations arising from the legislation on local self-government, as part of the broader electoral reform process.

The discussions are also expected to address recommendations issued by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Commission, both of which have called for comprehensive electoral reform involving not only the country’s two largest political parties but also other political forces.

Sources within the Democratic Party have indicated that the meeting’s agenda was set at the initiative of the ruling Socialists. The SP reportedly aims to complete the legal framework governing local elections following the approval of Albania’s new territorial map, which provides for 46 municipalities.

Differences between the two parties remain over the future electoral system. The Democratic Party has reiterated its support for fully open lists, including in elections for municipal councils. The Socialist Party, meanwhile, has expressed willingness to discuss changes to the electoral system, provided that the constitutional reform package also includes a reduction in the number of members of parliament from 140 to 101.

Two main issues are on the agenda for Monday’s meeting:

• Discussion of legal obligations arising from local self-government legislation within the electoral reform process.
• Further consideration of outstanding tasks related to the draft law on political party financing, alongside unresolved issues within the broader electoral reform agenda.

The talks come at a crucial stage for Albania’s electoral framework, with political parties facing mounting expectations to address institutional and legal shortcomings ahead of the 2027 local elections.