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
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
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
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 …
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 …
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 …
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
Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari met today with the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Lamallari briefed the delegation on Albania’s progress in implementing recommendations and strengthening democratic standards. “Albania has also made steady progress toward the EU. We have concrete reforms and results recognized by international …
President Vjosa Osmani hosted a farewell reception as she left office. Among the guests was Eva Palatova, acting head of the EU office in Kosovo. The EU office in Kosovo said Palatova attended the reception and thanked Osmani for her years of cooperation. “As Kosovo’s most trusted partner, the EU …
On World Autism Day, celebrated every year on April 2, the Parliament building lit up blue. Blue is the international color for autism awareness. Each year, state institutions join this global initiative. It shows their commitment to raising awareness for this social cause. World Autism Day aims to increase public …
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said institutions and society must stand with children with autism and their families. She stressed the need for understanding, support, and love for this group. “Every child deserves to be heard and supported,” she said. Osmani called for greater inclusion and ongoing care for children with …
The Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) held an awareness event today for World Autism Day. The event was organized with the National Club of Parents of Children with ASD & P.A.K. and the “Asim Vokshi” Linguistic High School. The goal was to raise public awareness and promote inclusion of …
Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha joined a virtual meeting called by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Over 40 countries attended. They discussed the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran closed it amid ongoing conflict. Hoxha said countries coordinate through diplomacy and politics to …
EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato said fighting disinformation requires promoting independent and professional media. It also requires strengthening freedom of expression. Gonzato said independent media forms a key pillar of EU rule-of-law principles. It also shows a country’s readiness to join the European Union. He said, “Disinformation affects public …
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama said Albania faces a historic opportunity to join the European family. He told the Socialist Assembly in Unit 14 that major powers now support Albanians concretely. He said Albania has never had such a clear chance to become a full EU member. …
Albania remembers actress Margarita Xhepa on her birthday. She remains an undisputed icon of the stage and screen. Her legacy continues to inspire generations. She was born on April 2, 1932. She became one of the brightest figures in Albanian theater and cinema. She performed dozens of roles that shaped …
The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Ali Ahmeti, reacted through an open letter on social media regarding recent developments in North Macedonia, emphasizing that the issue of the Albanian language cannot be put into question. In his message, Ahmeti underlined that a stable state is built on …