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Minister Hasani met David Cameron in Skopje

Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani is participating in the 30th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council that is being held in Skopje, North Macedonia on November 30 – December 1, 2023. Shortly after arriving in Skopje, Minister Hasani met with the British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron. …

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Kavaja man arrested after trying to kill 33-year-old with axe

A 52-year-old man was arrested this Thursday by the police in Kavaja after he tried to kill a 33-year-old man with an ax during a conflict for weak motives. Owner of the bar was put in handcuffs after he supported the 52-year-old man in this serious event, destroying the place …

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New EU Ambassador to Albania Appointed

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell announced today the new EU ambassador to Albania. He name is Silvio Gonzato, a prominent name in European diplomacy. He previously served as Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to the United Nations in New York. …

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Rama: Bridge connecting Permet villages constructed

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has wished the citizens a beautiful Thursday with views of the new bridge, which was built in the Përmet Municipality. In a social media statement, he said that this bridge that crosses over the Vjosë river connects several beautiful villages with each other that …

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The hearing session for Gerdec, former Minister of Defense again in court

The former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu, appeared today in the session that will take place today for Gërdec. Mediu is accused of abuse of duty as well as abuse of duty carried out in cooperation with the military chain of command. There are doubts that Mediu, in cooperation with …

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“Fight against organized crime”, Balla: Albania and Great Britain strengthen cooperation

Albania and Great Britain will strengthen cooperation between them in terms of the fight against organized crime. At the end of the official meetings in Great Britain, Interior Minister Taulant Balla met with his British counterpart James Cleverly, where he signed two documents in London to deepen this cooperation. Minister …

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Op/Ed: The dilemma over the criticism of the Greek veto

By GENC POLLO Ten days ago, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, standing on the side of visiting Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told the media that he was against the bilateralization of the European Union enlargement process.  The chancellor was apparently referring to the non-signing by the ambassador of Greece to …

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Rama congratulates Albanians on Liberation Day

Prime Minister Edi Rama has congratulated this Wednesday the Albanian people on the occasion of Liberation Day from the Nazi-fascist invaders. On the social networks, the Head of Government has shared a video from the “Mother Albania” monument, which is located at the entrance to the Nation’s Martyrs’ Cemetery. “Good …

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Parliament speaker’s message on Liberation Day

Speaker of the Assembly Lindita Nikolla has greeted this Wednesday, November 29, Liberation Day. In a social media reaction, Nikolla underlined that the liberation of Albania is a monumental work of the Albanian partisans, supported by the people, who in the Second World War placed Albania on the right side …

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Martyrs of Albania honored on Liberation Day

Martyrs of the homeland are honored near the “Mother Albania” monument this Wednesday on the occasion of Liberation Day. Present at the tributes are the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, the speaker of the Assembly Lindita Nikolla and the Prime Minister Edi Rama, as well as the head of …

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Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

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Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

News
How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

News
Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

News
Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News
The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News
Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News
Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

News
Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News
Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

News

Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

News

How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

News

Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News

The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News

Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News

Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

News

Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here