Preliminary results in Albania’s parliamentary elections give a clear victory to the ruling Socialist Party which attracted voters supporting the country’s uphill effort to join the European Union and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s bid for a fourth term.

Albania's ruling Socialists, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, appear to have secured a clear win. While Rama has promised EU membership in five years, the opposition has questioned whether the country is ready.

Albania’s ruling Socialist Party has won the country’s parliamentary elections, according to a near-complete vote count, securing Prime Minister Edi Rama an unprecedented fourth term in office. With about 96 percent of ballots counted,