Albania's prime minister has thanked hundreds of thousands of voters who supported his Socialist Party in the last parliamentary elections, backing his pledge to take the country into the European Union in five years.

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's prime minister Edi Rama has secured an unprecedented fourth term in power as his Socialist Party sailed to victory in Sunday's parliamentary election, a near complete vote count showed on Tuesday.

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.