Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell
Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here
Letter From Brussels: Judgment Day for the Balkan Hopefuls
In the first of her monthly dispatches from the heartland of the European Union, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at which Balkan states have been getting gold stars – or black marks – from the enlargement commissioners. Original post Here
Multigenderism’s Curious Impact
1. The Last Cycle of Extremist Ideologies in the Old Continent – Council of Europe In 2011, the Council of Europe adopted the final version of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), which contained many useful provisions. However, Article 3(c), which …
Balluku Charges Test PM Rama’s Power
TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) November 11, 2025. The criminal charges filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku over the Llogara Tunnel project have pushed Albania’s flagship justice reform into uncharted territory, bringing prosecutors closer than ever to the core of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government. The Special …
Albanian Political Giants’ Electoral Reform Deal is a Sham, Rivals Suspect
Albania’s smaller parties believe the country’s two main political forces unexpectedly agreed to work together on electoral reform in order to fix the system to maintain their dominance. Original post Here
Western Balkans Remains Key Smuggling Corridor in Europe: Report
The Western Balkan countries remain important corridors in Europe for drug and human trafficking and migrant smuggling, says the 2025 Organised Crime Index, produced by an anti-graft NGO. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: November 10, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Ambassador Tsao: lets focus cooperation on technology and AI
Tirana Times sat with the Head of the Taipei Representative office in Italy, Ambassador Vincent Tsao on his recent visit to Albania to talk about cooperation and exchange in technology, development, education and more… Your Excellency, Taiwan is known globally for its advanced technology and innovation sectors. What specific areas …
Albania’s Gender Equality Law: Now Let’s See It Implemented
Online disinformation from opponents of the new gender equality law shouldn’t obscure the real issue: this vital legislation has been adopted by parliament, but now we need it to work in practice, not just on paper. Original post Here
Albania Gender-Equality Law Draws Praise and Condemnation
Women’s rights groups hailed adoption of the new equality law as a historic move – while the opposition Democratic Party and ‘pro-family’ groups called it an attack on traditional values. Original post Here
The now-notorious hacker group Homeland Justice claimed that it had breached the computer defences of Albania’s postal service following its attack on parliament’s systems earlier this month. Original post Here
Charged with corruption, money laundering and concealment of wealth, ex-politician Monika Kryemadhi is rebranding herself as a showbiz celebrity on the Big Brother reality show, but can it keep her out of prison? Original post Here
An appeals court upheld the verdict jailing the former Socialist Party mayor of Himara, Jorgo Goro, who was at the centre of a political storm during a controversial election in 2023. Original post Here
The prime minister’s moves to shield his deputy from arrest feel like the beginning of the end of an era for Albanians’ hopes that the powerful would finally be held accountable. Original post Here
V Dem places Albania in a category dominated by African states, with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina the only Western Balkan countries in the same group. Tirana Times, March 23, 2026 – Albania has been placed in the category of electoral autocracy in the latest Democracy Report 2026 by the …
As oil and gas prices surge amid the Iran war, Balkan countries are pondering ways to reduce the impact on households and businesses. Original post Here
The controversy over Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has put the spotlight on prosecution efforts to target high-level corruption – but she is only the latest senior politician to face charges. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Democratic Party leader and former President Sali Berisha injured during clashes. Tirana Times, March 22, 2026 — Albania’s latest national opposition protest in Tirana, which ended in violent clashes between protesters and police, exposed not only rising anger against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government but also a broader crisis of …
Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – The United States has moved to dismantle a cyber network linked to Iran’s intelligence apparatus, seizing four domains used for hacking operations, disinformation campaigns and threats, in a case that places Albania at the center of a broader geopolitical confrontation. The U.S. Department of …