The Democratic Party is not accepting an agreement with opposition allies for the local elections of 9 May 2027. In parallel with negotiations on a unifying candidate, the party’s central headquarters has instructed its branches to begin identifying candidates for mayor. According to the instruction, proposals are required to come not only from DP members, but also from students, teachers, academics and civil society, including those who are part of the protest. Branches have until 30 November to submit names. The candidacies will then pass through the filter of the Selection Commission, before the primary process, which remains part of the DP statute.
Instruction
The upcoming local government elections are taking place after the Socialist Party unilaterally approved the Territorial Reform, which merged 15 municipalities, reducing the map to 46 municipalities, contrary to the demands of all local communities, public consultations, local democracy and European Union standards, without offering any solution to the deep problems caused by the territorial reform of 2014. This “territorial reform” serves only to consolidate the political power of the Socialist Party and nullifies the representation of communities, in the context of a dramatic depopulation of the country.
Our political response, amid the most powerful social protests that have deeply shaken the regime, is full openness to society, focusing the work of our structures on identifying and selecting the best candidates with high moral, professional and civic integrity, in every local community.
To this end, with the aim of guaranteeing as open, transparent and inclusive a process as possible for identifying and selecting the highest-quality and most representative candidacies for the Democratic Party in the upcoming local elections, the process of collecting candidacy proposals for mayors shall begin in all branches of the Democratic Party.
For this,
I INSTRUCT:
I. LAUNCHING THE PROCESS AND METHOD OF IDENTIFYING CANDIDACIES
The launch of the process of collecting candidacy proposals for local government, which will represent the Democratic Party in the local elections of 9 May 2027.
All DP branches shall immediately begin the process of obtaining opinions and proposals from the membership and structures of the DP, in accordance with the statutory provision of Article 12, point 1 of the Statute of the DP;
In order to achieve as open and inclusive a process as possible, in addition to political proposals that as a rule include members and leaders of the Democratic Party structures, members and leading structures must engage through an open and intensive dialogue with the supporters and sympathizers of the Democratic Party and the community as a whole, with the teaching staff and academic world, students and civil society, liberal professionals, honest entrepreneurs, political persecutees and property owners, as well as non-profit organizations, to gather opinions and proposals with the aim of identifying persons with integrity, civic courage and outstanding capacities in support of public causes, objectives and the programme of the DP.
In the municipalities directly affected by the changes to the new territorial map and the merger of the 15 existing municipalities, the respective branches of the Democratic Party coordinate work and organize special consultations with residents and the structures of the merged units. The purpose of this coordination is to ensure that the voice, interests and dignified representation of these communities are not compromised by the ruling majority’s political map, but instead are a determining factor in identifying and selecting representative candidates for the respective municipality.
Deputies of the Democratic Party and sitting mayors are not subject to the preliminary screening and selection process; they are considered directly qualified for the further stages of the selection process.
II. PROFILE AND CRITERIA FOR CANDIDATES
Proposals should include public figures and prominent individuals from all fields of life and social strata, with high political or professional integrity, an unblemished moral reputation, recognized professional contributions, and active civic engagement in defending the public interest, the fight against corruption, and community rights, who enjoy respect, trust and broad support in the municipality where they live and work.
Candidates proposed to qualify in the selection process must meet the following criteria:
a) Not be in a condition of ineligibility for a public office, as defined by Law No. 138/2015 “On Guaranteeing the Integrity of Persons Who Are Elected, Appointed or Exercise Public Functions”, as amended;
b) As of 02.07.1991, not have been members or candidates of the Politburo, members of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania, members of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, presidents of the Supreme Court, Prosecutors General, heads of the General Investigation Directorate, members of the Council of Ministers, heads of Public Security Branches, employees of the bodies of the former State Security, collaborators
of the former State Security or those who were favored, members of the Central Commission for Deportation-Internment, investigators, prosecutors or judges in political trials;
c) Be active in public and civic life, firmly defending the public interest, the rights of local communities, as well as the values and principles of the PDSH;
d) Have contributed to election campaigns for the Democratic Party or have stood out in public causes, civic, student, academic or community movements in defense of democracy, the rule of law and clean governance;
e) Have completed higher education;
f) Not be subject to any disciplinary measures in force for violations of the Statute of the PDSH, the Internal Regulations and the Code of Good Conduct, Ethics and Integrity of the PDSH.
III. DOCUMENTATION AND VERIFICATION PROCEDURE
Each proposed or self-nominated candidate who expresses interest in being part of the selection process must submit the following documentation to the Organizational and Human Resources Secretariat of the PDSH:
a) A formal application expressing his/her will to run as a candidate, clearly specifying the municipality/area in which he/she wishes to compete;
b) A short, updated professional, political and public/civic engagement CV;
c) The self-declaration form on good character, according to the CEC (KQZ) format;
d) Self-declaration that from 29.11.1944 to 02.07.1991 he/she did not hold any of the functions specified in Chapter II, point 2, letter “b” of this instruction;
e) Self-declaration, when he/she is a member of the PDSH, that there are no disciplinary measures in force against him/her for violations of the Statute, the Internal Regulation and the Code of Good Conduct, Ethics and Integrity of the PDSH.
The assessment of the fulfillment of the conditions and criteria of the proposed candidates is carried out by the Candidate Selection Commission (KSK), in accordance with Article 12, point 1 of the PDSH Statute. The Commission consists of at least 5 members, who are figures with a long career in the PD, free from conflicts of interest, or with a prominent commitment in civil society or academia.
The KSK operates independently of the Party’s governing bodies and is subject only to the rules set out in the Statute or sub-legal acts adopted in accordance with it.
After the proposal phase closes and applications are submitted, the KSK reviews the documentation within 15 days according to the approved methodology and recommends to the PDSH Presidency the list of candidates who meet the statutory criteria and conditions.
IV. ORGANIZATIONAL RULES AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITHIN BRANCHES
When the chairman or secretary of a branch is proposed and accepts to be a candidate for local government elections, the corresponding duties in the branch are exercised by the branch deputy chairman, in accordance with Article 40, point 1 of the PDSH Statute.
In municipalities covered by more than one PDSH branch, as well as in municipalities where new units have been merged following territorial reorganization, the leadership structures of the respective branches closely coordinate the consultation process to ensure inclusiveness and fair representation of every community.
Leaders of the Party’s structures, at the central and grassroots levels, shall ensure that the process of proposals and consultations is free, honest, impartial and equal, avoiding any one-sided influence on the membership and guaranteeing equal treatment and full space for every candidacy proposed by the party or by the community.
The process of collecting proposals must be completed by 30.11.2026.
Proposals and accompanying documentation shall be submitted in written and electronic form to the Organizational and Human Resources Secretariat.
Violation of the rules set out in this instruction entails disciplinary consequences under the PDSH Statute in force, the Internal Regulation, and the Code of Good Conduct, Ethics and Integrity of the PDSH.
The Secretary General, the Organizational and Human Resources Secretariat, as well as the branch presidencies of the Party are tasked with monitoring and implementing this Instruction.
This instruction enters into force immediately.
V. DEADLINES AND FINAL PROVISIONS
-The process of collecting proposals must be completed by 30.11.2026.
-Proposals and accompanying documentation shall be submitted in written and electronic form to the Organizational and Human Resources Secretariat.
-This instruction enters into force immediately.
-Violation of the rules set out in this instruction entails disciplinary consequences under the PDSH Statute in force, the Internal Regulation, and the Code of Good Conduct, Ethics and Integrity of the PDSH.
-The Secretary General, the Organizational and Human Resources Secretariat, as well as the branch presidencies of the Party are tasked with monitoring and implementing this Instruction.