After the defeat of the Democratic Party-led coalition in the 2013 parliamentary election and the resignation of Sali Berisha as party leader, Basha was elected as chairman of the Democratic Party in 23 July 2013, following the first one-member-one-vote election in party’s history .

On 30 September 2014, a national congress of the Democratic Party was held to elect a new leadership.

In the congress a tough reform of the party was announced by Basha.

During his leadership numerous anti-government demonstrations have been held, accusing the government as corrupt and criminalized.
On 2015 the Democratic Party proposed a Decriminalization Law, which led to several months of negotiations with the government.
Finally in December 2015, the law was passed by majority in the Parliament, barring people with criminal convictions from holding public office.

On December 11, 2016 during the celebrations for the 26th anniversary of the Democratic Party, party leader Lulzim Basha announced his program for the further modernization and democratization of the party ahead of the 2017 parliamentary elections.

After previously promising that 35% of the parliamentary candidates would consist of members from the youth movement of the Party, Basha now announced a limitations of all mandates of the party leaders to a two-year term, and the full democratization of the internal election process.

On 18 February 2017 members of the Democratic Party and other opposition parties, under the leadership of Lulzim Basha pitched a giant tent outside the Prime Minister's office in Tirana after thousands of protesters rallied to demand free elections and a technocrat government.
The opposition protest further escalated into a larger political conflict.
The Democratic Party and its allies refused to register to take part in the June 18 general election, until the government will accept their conditions to secure a free and democratic election.

In June 2017, Basha met with President Donald Trump during a visit to the US as part of participation in White House Workforce Development week.
Basha said the two discussed " administration initiatives on cutting taxes, promoting vocational and job-training, an apprenticeship program."
Earlier, Basha claimed that his support for Trump made him the target of a campaign funded by George Soros.
After the defeat of the Democratic Party-led coalition in the 2013 parliamentary election and the resignation of Sali Berisha as party leader, Basha was elected as chairman of the Democratic Party in 23 July 2013, following the first one-member-one-vote election in party’s history .
On 30 September 2014, a national congress of the Democratic Party was held to elect a new leadership. 
In the congress a tough reform of the party was announced by Basha. 
During his leadership numerous anti-government demonstrations have been held, accusing the government as corrupt and criminalized. On 2015 the Democratic Party proposed a Decriminalization Law, which led to several months of negotiations with the government. Finally in December 2015, the law was passed by majority in the Parliament, barring people with criminal convictions from holding public office.
On December 11, 2016 during the celebrations for the 26th anniversary of the Democratic Party, party leader Lulzim Basha announced his program for the further modernization and democratization of the party ahead of the 2017 parliamentary elections.
After previously promising that 35% of the parliamentary candidates would consist of members from the youth movement of the Party, Basha now announced a limitations of all mandates of the party leaders to a two-year term, and the full democratization of the internal election process.
On 18 February 2017 members of the Democratic Party and other opposition parties, under the leadership of Lulzim Basha pitched a giant tent outside the Prime Minister's office in Tirana after thousands of protesters rallied to demand free elections and a technocrat government. The opposition protest further escalated into a larger political conflict. The Democratic Party and its allies refused to register to take part in the June 18 general election, until the government will accept their conditions to secure a free and democratic election.
In June 2017, Basha met with President Donald Trump during a visit to the US as part of participation in White House Workforce Development week. Basha said the two discussed " administration initiatives on cutting taxes, promoting vocational and job-training, an apprenticeship program." Earlier, Basha claimed that his support for Trump made him the target of a campaign funded by George Soros.
Lulzim Basha