The US Embassy in Tirana issued an official statement on Monday regarding the parliamentary elections in Albania on May 11, congratulating the Albanian people on the conduct of the elections.

In a statement published on the embassy’s official social media channels, it said: “We congratulate the Albanian people on their parliamentary elections and look forward to continuing our close partnership with Albania.” The statement was picked up by news channel Euronews Albania, among others, and was seen as a clear signal of the United States’ recognition of the election process.

The reaction from Washington came a good two weeks after the election and is the first official statement from the US on the election results. As reported by Politiko.al, the wording of the message was deliberately neutral and diplomatically cautious: neither the winning party nor its leader, Prime Minister Edi Rama, were mentioned by name.

Observers interpret this choice of words as a sign that the US wants to support the democratic process without getting involved in party politics. On May 11, Rama’s Socialist Party (PS) won a clear victory in the parliamentary elections, laying the foundation for a fourth term in office for the head of government.

International election observers, including delegates from the OSCE, had assessed the election as essentially free and fair, although they pointed to isolated irregularities. However, opposition leader Sali Berisha, chairman of the Democratic Party, contested the result and spoke of “systematic electoral fraud” – so far without convincing evidence.

According to the Albanian Times, political observers interpret the congratulations now offered by the US as de facto recognition of the election results. The US government thus joins a number of international partners, including the European Union, which had already made similar statements in the days following the election.

The message also emphasized that the US wanted to “continue its close partnership with Albania” – a formulation that goes beyond mere diplomatic routine. It refers to Washington’s strategic interest in stable political conditions in Albania and in further bilateral cooperation, for example in the areas of security, judicial reform, and the economy.

Image:
https://al.usembassy.gov/tirana/