As counting wrapped up in the municipality of Saranda, a city in the county of Vlora, the Socialist Party emerged victorious with 52.51% of the votes. Coming in second with 33.89% were the Democrats.

What caught the attention was that the process finalized in the best way possible and differently from what is usually witnessed as candidates namely, Anila Denaj from the SP and DP’s Ina Zhupa settled their differences apart and reached out for a handshake and then a hug.

Denaj, Albania’s finance minister, was the fourth on the Socialist Party’s candidates list, while Ina Zhupa was second on the DP’s list of candidates running in Vlora.