TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Preliminary results in Albania’s parliamentary election on Tuesday 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.

A near-complete ballot count shows the Socialist Party secured 52 percent of the votes or 82 of 140 parliamentary seats.