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 …
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
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
Albanian Special Court Suspends Deputy Prime Minister: Source
The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here
Deputy PM Balluku Suspended as SPAK Probe Widens
By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …
Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Visit Signals a New Middle East Order
By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …
Digital Rights Review: Journalists and LGBTQ+ Groups Targeted Online
BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here
Albania Opens Last Negotiation Cluster With EU
As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here
Week in Review: Stuck in the Status Quo
Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here
Opposition Aghast at Albanian PM’s Public Backing for Indicted Deputy
Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama joined the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary celebration in Korça on Wednesday. He highlighted Albania’s latest step toward European Union membership after the recent intergovernmental conference with the EU. Rama said the Socialist Party moved Albania one step higher on its path to …
The Albanian government launched the “Smart City” program to support the development of smarter cities across the country. State Minister for Local Government Ervin Demo presented the initiative on Wednesday. He said the program will connect different systems already used by municipalities. The goal is to improve urban management and …
General secretaries from the parliaments of the Western Balkans, Austria and Slovenia met in Tirana on Wednesday. The forum focused on regional cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy and European Union integration. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Agron Gjekmarkaj and Secretary General Genci Gjonçaj opened the meeting. They stressed the importance of parliamentary cooperation …
Korça is moving closer to becoming a regional center for festivals and cultural events. Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the construction site of the new Festival and Creative Industry Center on Wednesday. The project covers 18 hectares and aims to create a modern space for festivals, concerts and artistic events …
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama marked the party’s 35th anniversary in Korça on Wednesday. In his speech, Rama reflected on May 26, 1996, and described it as a difficult moment in Albania’s democratic history. He said Socialist Party members faced violence and brutality during the parliamentary elections …
Albania’s State Police Director General Skënder Hita met Dutch Ambassador Reinout Vos in Tirana on Wednesday. During the meeting, Hita received a congratulatory letter from Dutch Police Chief Janny Knol. In her message, Knol praised cooperation between Albanian and Dutch police and wished Hita success in his new role. She …
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Wednesday shared the reaction of Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, after Russia called on diplomatic staff and foreign citizens to leave Kyiv ahead of planned attacks. Sybiha said Ukraine highly values Albania’s principled and strong position. “We appreciate Albania’s principled …
President of the European Council António Costa will visit six Western Balkan countries ahead of the EU–Western Balkans Summit. The diplomatic tour starts on 1 June in Sarajevo. Costa will meet members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the country’s Council of Ministers. On 2 June, he will …
Chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group Taulant Balla met Bulgarian philanthropist Milen Vrabevski in Tirana on Wednesday. Vrabevski is the founder of the Bulgarian Memory Foundation. The two discussed cultural, educational and youth initiatives in the Western Balkans. They focused on strengthening regional cooperation and building mutual understanding between …
LDK’s candidate for prime minister, Lumir Abdixhiku, together with presidential candidate Vjosa Osmani, held a rally with citizens in Lugu i Baranit, delivering messages of change and political mobilization. Abdixhiku emphasized that the unity of citizens transforms hope into a movement that cannot be stopped. Full post: “From Lugu i …