Blog
News

Albania’s Fourth Rama Government Approved Without Debate

TIRANA, Albania, Tirana Times, September 18,2025 — In an unprecedented scene in Albania’s 35 years of political pluralism, Parliament on Thursday approved Prime Minister Edi Rama’s new cabinet and four-year governing program within minutes and without a single debate. The session, marked by chaos, a pre-recorded appearance from a virtual …

Read More
News

Cancel Parliament

What happened in Albania’s Parliament last week was more than a political skirmish. It was an assault on the very essence of parliamentarism. In a scene without precedent in the country’s 35 years of political pluralism — and arguably rare even in the wider history of parliamentary life — the …

Read More
News

Cleaning Up: Albania Plans New Waste Law After Incinerator Scandals

After a series of failed waste incineration projects, a new draft law foresees the creation of a powerful state waste agency that will fine polluters – but the potential cost worries some. Original post Here

Read More
News

Albanian Opposition Furious as AI ‘Minister’ Makes Parliament ‘Speech’

In a tense parliament session, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama gave the floor to the AI entity he has appointed as artificial intelligence minister, sparking an angry backlash from opposition MPs. Original post Here

Read More
News

‘Enemies of the State’: Concern in Albania, EU Over PM’s Criticism of Courts

In singling out judges and prosecutors for stinging personal criticism, Albania’s Edi Rama risks further eroding the democratic separation of powers, experts say. Original post Here

Read More
News

‘Enemies of the State’: Concern in Albania, EU Over PM’s Criticism of Courts

In singling out judges and prosecutors for stinging personal criticism, Albania’s Edi Rama risks further eroding the democratic separation of powers, experts say. Original post Here

Read More
News

Albania’s Headline-Grabbing AI ‘Minister’ is a Risky Innovation

Without legal frameworks and safeguards, the decision to appoint an AI entity as a ‘minister’ entrusted with sensitive tasks is ambitious – but fraught with danger. Original post Here

Read More
News

“Pashaliman Deal: Albania’s Transactional Politics and Western Patronage”

From D’Alema to Tony Blair, Rama’s reliance on influential Western figures fuels controversy. TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times, September 15,2025) — The Albanian government’s decision to hand over part of the Pashaliman naval base to an Italian developer under criminal investigation has widened into a broader debate about Prime Minister Edi …

Read More
News

EU Countries Ban Albanian Farm Exports Amid Safety Scandal

TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times, September 10, 2025 ) — Albania is grappling with an escalating food safety crisis as European Union member states including Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Germany repeatedly block or destroy shipments of its agricultural products, citing dangerous levels of pesticides and heavy metals. The latest scandal unfolded …

Read More
News

Saudi Literature in Albanian: Tirana Times Publishes Three New Titles Ahead of Saudi Cultural Week in Tirana

Tirana Times Staff Albania, September 15, 2025, Tirana Times .With the opening of the Saudi Cultural Week in Tirana tomorrow, Tirana Times Publishing House is marking the occasion with the release of three new translations of contemporary Saudi novels into Albanian. The titles—Critical Condition of Patient “K” by Aziz Muhamed, …

Read More
News
Today’s Match Against Turkey, Begaj: “Heart in Prishtina”

Kosovo faces Turkey tonight at 20:45 at Prishtina’s “Fadil Vokrri” Stadium. The match is part of the 2026 World Cup play-offs, hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. President Bajram Begaj wished the Kosovo team success. “Heart in Prishtina. Go, Kosovo!” Begaj wrote on social media. The match is seen …

News
Rama: State Oil Companies to Protect Consumers

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, announced the creation of a state oil company. He said it will transform the hydrocarbon market and protect consumers. At the Socialist Party Assembly in Unit 7, Rama addressed rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict. He explained that removing …

News
Rama: We Reformed Systems to Reduce Corruption

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, said today that Albania fights corruption more than ever. He credited government reforms that make systems less vulnerable to corruption. At the Socialist Party Assembly in Unit 7, Rama highlighted that Albania leads the region in public procurement quality. Ministries and agencies …

News
Hoxha: No Blockage in Albania’s EU Accession Process

Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania faces no blockage in its EU accession process. He stressed that the country has advanced in closing chapters, but member states make the final decisions. “Reforms are our key to joining the European family,” Hoxha told Top Channel. He rejected claims of any obstacles …

News
Ibrahimaj: New Program to Prepare Businesses for EU Single Market

Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj attended the presentation of a report on Albanian businesses’ readiness for the EU single market. She called it the starting point for a new support program for the private sector. The program will guide businesses over the next four years. It will help them …

News
Albania at OECD Global Forum on Anti-Corruption and Integrity

Albania participated in the 2026 OECD Global Forum on Anti-Corruption and Integrity in Paris, the Public Administration Department (DAP) announced. Marcela Kërëku, Director of Integrity, Oversight, and Administrative and Judicial Complaints at DAP, represented the country. She highlighted integrity as a key factor for competitiveness and development. During the session …

News
Rama: Socialist Party Wins by Starting Election Preparations Early

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party (PS) leader, said PS will succeed in the next local elections. At the PS Assembly in Unit 7, Rama said, “We start preparing for elections long before others. When others watch us, we focus on ourselves.” He added the party balances election planning …

News
Rama: Albania’s EU Negotiations Proceed According to Plan

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, said Albania’s EU negotiation process is on track. At the PS Assembly in Unit 7, Rama rejected media claims of a stalled integration. “These reports are 100% false,” he said. He added, “We follow an agreed calendar with the EU. The European …

News
“Corriere dello Sport”: Kosovo, This Balkan Fairy Tale

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport describes Kosovo as a Balkan fairy tale, a mix of roots, departures, returns, and children scattered across Europe. Kosovo dreams of its first World Cup, and today, that goal in America no longer seems distant. The dramatic 4-3 victory over Slovakia, which boosted the team’s …

News
Peleshi: Clear Progress in Albania’s Implementation of CoE Recommendations

Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi met today with co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ionut-Marian Stroe and Pavel Jablonski, to discuss Albania’s reform progress and democratic standards. During the meeting, Peleshi highlighted that since exiting the monitoring system in April 2024, Albania has made significant advances …

News

Today’s Match Against Turkey, Begaj: “Heart in Prishtina”

Kosovo faces Turkey tonight at 20:45 at Prishtina’s “Fadil Vokrri” Stadium. The match is part of the 2026 World Cup play-offs, hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. President Bajram Begaj wished the Kosovo team success. “Heart in Prishtina. Go, Kosovo!” Begaj wrote on social media. The match is seen …

News

Rama: State Oil Companies to Protect Consumers

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, announced the creation of a state oil company. He said it will transform the hydrocarbon market and protect consumers. At the Socialist Party Assembly in Unit 7, Rama addressed rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict. He explained that removing …

News

Rama: We Reformed Systems to Reduce Corruption

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, said today that Albania fights corruption more than ever. He credited government reforms that make systems less vulnerable to corruption. At the Socialist Party Assembly in Unit 7, Rama highlighted that Albania leads the region in public procurement quality. Ministries and agencies …

News

Hoxha: No Blockage in Albania’s EU Accession Process

Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania faces no blockage in its EU accession process. He stressed that the country has advanced in closing chapters, but member states make the final decisions. “Reforms are our key to joining the European family,” Hoxha told Top Channel. He rejected claims of any obstacles …

News

Ibrahimaj: New Program to Prepare Businesses for EU Single Market

Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj attended the presentation of a report on Albanian businesses’ readiness for the EU single market. She called it the starting point for a new support program for the private sector. The program will guide businesses over the next four years. It will help them …

News

Albania at OECD Global Forum on Anti-Corruption and Integrity

Albania participated in the 2026 OECD Global Forum on Anti-Corruption and Integrity in Paris, the Public Administration Department (DAP) announced. Marcela Kërëku, Director of Integrity, Oversight, and Administrative and Judicial Complaints at DAP, represented the country. She highlighted integrity as a key factor for competitiveness and development. During the session …

News

Rama: Socialist Party Wins by Starting Election Preparations Early

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party (PS) leader, said PS will succeed in the next local elections. At the PS Assembly in Unit 7, Rama said, “We start preparing for elections long before others. When others watch us, we focus on ourselves.” He added the party balances election planning …

News

Rama: Albania’s EU Negotiations Proceed According to Plan

Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, said Albania’s EU negotiation process is on track. At the PS Assembly in Unit 7, Rama rejected media claims of a stalled integration. “These reports are 100% false,” he said. He added, “We follow an agreed calendar with the EU. The European …

News

“Corriere dello Sport”: Kosovo, This Balkan Fairy Tale

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport describes Kosovo as a Balkan fairy tale, a mix of roots, departures, returns, and children scattered across Europe. Kosovo dreams of its first World Cup, and today, that goal in America no longer seems distant. The dramatic 4-3 victory over Slovakia, which boosted the team’s …

News

Peleshi: Clear Progress in Albania’s Implementation of CoE Recommendations

Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi met today with co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ionut-Marian Stroe and Pavel Jablonski, to discuss Albania’s reform progress and democratic standards. During the meeting, Peleshi highlighted that since exiting the monitoring system in April 2024, Albania has made significant advances …