(ANSA) - TRIESTE, MAY 11 - Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Albania, where votes are being cast today to choose between incumbent Prime Minister Edi Rama, a socialist, and Sali Berisha, a former president of the republic and former premier who has returned to lead his center-right Democratic Party at the head of a broad coalition, in a vote considered crucial to the small Balkan country's European dreams. On the ground more than 2,000 foreign and Albanian observers and, in particular, under the watchful eye of the international community. The country, by far the most pro-European in the region, has waited 13 years between obtaining EU candidate status and opening negotiations in July 2022. Today a new challenge is added: for the first time, the diaspora will vote from abroad. Albania, a low-wage country, is experiencing, like the rest of the Balkans, an exodus of its inhabitants in search of opportunities, particularly the better-educated young people, to countries such as Germany and Italy. According to official data from the Central Election Commission (Cec), some 246,000 Albanians living abroad are registered to vote. In all, there are about 3.7 million eligible voters. Competing are candidates from 40 parties under a proportional system. But the real duel will be between Edi Rama, 60, leader of the Socialist Party since 2005, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term as prime minister, and Sali Berisha, 80, who now aspires to an economically prosperous 'Greater Albania'. Joining him on the campaign trail is an adviser to Donald Trump's party, Chris LaCivita. Albania must choose the 140 members of parliament, dominated for 12 years by Rama's Socialists. Sali Berisha, is former president of the republic and former premier for two terms from 2005 to 2013, back at the head of his Democratic Party (PD), the main political force of the center-right opposition and competing with a broad coalition of 22 other political formations around him. There are also eight other parties and three coalitions, much of it born out of fractions within the PD. It is in the sign of the EU that Rama has built his campaign, promising the conclusion of negotiations in 2027 and full membership by 2030, despite the fact that this is a goal beyond the future mandate. "In front of us there is only one date to be able to win the historic bet with Europe. For Albania and with Albania in Europe," was the premier's leitmotif. His appeal is addressed to all, "without political distinction, to live up to this encounter with history and not to allow the open door of the EU to close." Berisha also speaks of these elections as "a historic moment for the country's future," promising "a new Albania, emancipated from crime and corruption." But more than in the economic program and promises for tax cuts, the Albanian opposition seems to pin its hopes on the "magic" of Chris Lacivita. "Your name, your experience have become the elixir of this campaign, and will be the spirit of our victory," Berisha said, addressing LaCivita at the campaign's closing rally. "Let's make Albania great again," was the slogan chosen by Berisha, who wanted to imitate Trump no only in the slogan but also in his public appearances, always wearing a baseball cap, blue in color though, like his own party's. A choice meant to be a provocation toward the decision of the U.S. State Department, which in the Biden era declared him "persona non grata" for "serious acts of corruption." An act, Berisha has always claimed, that was sponsored by tycoon George Soros to come "to the aid of the left." Berisha has not yet made public the financial aspect of the U.S. consultant's engagement, while last month, his party also signed a lobbying contract in the U.S. for as much as $6 million "paid by Albanian patriots living in America," but still unknown. A corruption charge also hangs over the former president, however, from Albania's Special Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime and Corruption (Spak), which held him "under house arrest" until last November. His ally and leader of the Freedom Party, former Republic President Ilir Meta, has been in jail for several months, arrested for "corruption and money laundering." Another ally, Republican Party chairman Fatmir Mediu, is under investigation for "abuse of office" in another trial. Rama is also running for reelection after a series of corruption scandals involving the majority over the past two years, with several of his mayors, former senior officials, and former ministers ending up in handcuffs, including former deputy premier Arben Ahmetaj, who fled to Switzerland. The arrest last February, also of Tirana's mayor for alleged corruption appeared to be a major blow three months before the elections. Polls, on the other hand, have shown the opposite: Rama and his party have a clear lead, so much so that the premier has even made a public bet, betting on winning a minimum of 78 seats (four more than the current ones) and a maximum of 88, which would even guarantee him an absolute majority in Parliament. (ANSA).