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Veliaj wins 3rd mandate as Tirana’s mayor by huge difference

Erion Veliaj has won a third mandate as Mayor of the Albanian capital, Tirana in the local elections of 14 May 2023. Veliaj has deeply defeated his opponent of the “Together We Win” coalition, Belind Kelliçi, with a difference of 60 thousand votes. From the official data of the Central …

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Teen stabbed in Kamza school knife fight

A 15-year-old has been stabbed this Tuesday noon in the outer premises of a school in Kamza area of Tirana. According to the police, the incident took place outside the “Ahmet Zogu” school. During the physical clash, citizen K. Gj., 18 years old, stabbed a 15-year-old with a cutting tool. …

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Analysis: With low turnout, local elections give insights into grim demographic forecasts

Migration and demographics playing increasing role in Albanian elections TIRANA, May 16, 2023 – Albania’s latest administrative elections marked the lowest turnout ever for a competitive voting process in post-communism, with only about one in three eligible voters casting votes.  The number of people who had the right to vote …

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Elections/ Celibashi: According to the law, the result will be announced today at 22:00

If everything will goes well and the law will be respected, today at 22:00 we will have the result for the local elections for mayors. The statement comes from the head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, at the first press conference today. ” According to the law, by 10:00 p.m. …

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For Tourism-Dependent Balkan States, Foreign Workers Fill Growing Gap

Tourism is a mainstay of the Croatian, Montenegrin and Albanian economies. But growing labour shortages mean hotels, restaurants and bars are increasingly looking abroad for staff. Original post Here

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Share Your Experience: School Violence in South Eastern Europe

We would like to hear from parents, legal guardians, and teachers willing to share their experiences to help our upcoming investigation into school violence in Southeast Europe. Original post Here

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Ruling Socialists Defeat Divided Opposition in Albanian Local Polls

Preliminary data from Albania’s Central Election Commission shows that the ruling Socialist Party is leading in the majority of municipalities in the country, including the capital Tirana. Original post Here

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Opposition candidate wins Puka Municipality

Candidate of “Together We Win” coalition, Rrok Dodaj has won this Monday the May 14 local elections for Puka Municipality with 58.13%, against the Socialist Party’s (SP) candidate, Gjon Gjonaj with 41.87% Based on the published data, hope of the “Together We Win” coalition candidates to hold another term in …

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Socialist Party leads in 54 municipalities from north to south, “Together We Win” is expected to win in 7 cities

A few hours have passed since the official start of the counting of votes to announce the new mayors from the May 14 elections. So far, the counting for the mayor has been completed in the Municipality of Kamza, in Elbasan and in Vorë, where the counting was done electronically, …

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Ballot counting interrupted in Tirana’s number five unit

Counting of ballots has been stopped this Monday for several hours at the “Vasil Shanto” school in Tirana and is expected to start at 11:00. Halting of the process has come despite the order by Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi vote counters must continue working without …

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Albanian PM Announces Kanye West Concert Despite Antisemitism Concerns

Controversial US rapper also known as Ye – who has been banned from the UK and Australia – will hold a concert in Tirana on July 11, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Facebook. Original post Here

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“Double Your Business” scheme, Finance Minister: sovereign guarantee and negotiations on loan terms

TIRANA, April 30 – Finance Minister Petrit Malaj says the new programme “Double Your Business” will be launched soon. He speaks during a press conference on the first-quarter fiscal performance. He says the scheme remains in the preparation phase. The Ministry of Finance negotiates with the Ministry of Economy and …

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150,000 euro of confiscated crime assets allocated to 21 non-governmental organisations for social projects

TIRANA, April 30 – Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari met representatives of 21 civil society organisations (NGOs) selected for funding from a special state fund. The fund comes from assets seized and confiscated from criminal activity. The programme is managed by the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated …

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Slovak foreign minister: Western Balkans EU integration a strategic priority, rule of law in focus

TIRANA, April 30 – Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said European Union enlargement remains a strategic priority. He spoke at a joint press conference with Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, Austria’s Beate Meinl-Reisinger, and the Czech Republic’s Petr Macinka. Blanár described the meeting as useful and necessary. …

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Czech foreign minister: Western Balkans belongs in EU, Albania’s progress impressive

TIRANA, April 30 – Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka joined Austrian and Slovak counterparts in Tirana for a joint press conference with Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, where they reaffirmed support for Albania’s European Union path and reviewed progress in accession talks. At the start, Macinka framed the visit as …

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Austria’s foreign minister backs Albania’s EU path, urges continued reforms and delivery from the EU

TIRANA, April 30 – Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger expressed strong support for Albania’s European Union path during a joint appearance in Tirana with Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha and counterparts from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where she framed EU enlargement as a strategic investment for Europe rather than …

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Albania’s foreign minister Hoxha meets Austrian, Czech and Slovak counterparts, strong backing for EU path

TIRANA, April 30 – Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha hosted counterparts from Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia in Tirana. Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Petr Macinka and Juraj Blanár joined him in a joint media statement. They confirmed continued support for Albania’s European Union path. At the start, Hoxha described the visit as …

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Battle of Kaçanik Gorge marks symbol of Albanian resistance and sacrifice

TIRANA, April 30 – April 30, 1910 remains recorded in history as the day of a major confrontation between Albanian insurgents and Ottoman forces in Kaçanik Gorge. Idriz Seferi, one of the best-known leaders of the Albanian uprisings, chooses Kaçanik Gorge as a strategic position to stop the advancing Ottoman …

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Berisha at IDU Forum in Zagreb: Electoral Autocracy and “Narco-State” Hindering EU Integration

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, spoke at the forum of the International Democrat Union (IDU) in Zagreb, where he addressed Albania’s European Union integration process and the factors he claims are obstructing it. He identified what he described as “electoral autocracy” and a “narco-state” as the main …

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Malaj: Only Two Secondary Acts Remaining Before Launch of Online Betting

The Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, stated today that the process for opening online sports betting is in its final stage, with only two secondary legal acts remaining to be approved before licensed operators can begin operating legally. In a press conference, Malaj said that these acts are being coordinated …

News

Albanian PM Announces Kanye West Concert Despite Antisemitism Concerns

Controversial US rapper also known as Ye – who has been banned from the UK and Australia – will hold a concert in Tirana on July 11, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Facebook. Original post Here

News

“Double Your Business” scheme, Finance Minister: sovereign guarantee and negotiations on loan terms

TIRANA, April 30 – Finance Minister Petrit Malaj says the new programme “Double Your Business” will be launched soon. He speaks during a press conference on the first-quarter fiscal performance. He says the scheme remains in the preparation phase. The Ministry of Finance negotiates with the Ministry of Economy and …

News

150,000 euro of confiscated crime assets allocated to 21 non-governmental organisations for social projects

TIRANA, April 30 – Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari met representatives of 21 civil society organisations (NGOs) selected for funding from a special state fund. The fund comes from assets seized and confiscated from criminal activity. The programme is managed by the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated …

News

Slovak foreign minister: Western Balkans EU integration a strategic priority, rule of law in focus

TIRANA, April 30 – Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar said European Union enlargement remains a strategic priority. He spoke at a joint press conference with Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, Austria’s Beate Meinl-Reisinger, and the Czech Republic’s Petr Macinka. Blanár described the meeting as useful and necessary. …

News

Czech foreign minister: Western Balkans belongs in EU, Albania’s progress impressive

TIRANA, April 30 – Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka joined Austrian and Slovak counterparts in Tirana for a joint press conference with Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, where they reaffirmed support for Albania’s European Union path and reviewed progress in accession talks. At the start, Macinka framed the visit as …

News

Austria’s foreign minister backs Albania’s EU path, urges continued reforms and delivery from the EU

TIRANA, April 30 – Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger expressed strong support for Albania’s European Union path during a joint appearance in Tirana with Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha and counterparts from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where she framed EU enlargement as a strategic investment for Europe rather than …

News

Albania’s foreign minister Hoxha meets Austrian, Czech and Slovak counterparts, strong backing for EU path

TIRANA, April 30 – Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha hosted counterparts from Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia in Tirana. Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Petr Macinka and Juraj Blanár joined him in a joint media statement. They confirmed continued support for Albania’s European Union path. At the start, Hoxha described the visit as …

News

Battle of Kaçanik Gorge marks symbol of Albanian resistance and sacrifice

TIRANA, April 30 – April 30, 1910 remains recorded in history as the day of a major confrontation between Albanian insurgents and Ottoman forces in Kaçanik Gorge. Idriz Seferi, one of the best-known leaders of the Albanian uprisings, chooses Kaçanik Gorge as a strategic position to stop the advancing Ottoman …

News

Berisha at IDU Forum in Zagreb: Electoral Autocracy and “Narco-State” Hindering EU Integration

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, spoke at the forum of the International Democrat Union (IDU) in Zagreb, where he addressed Albania’s European Union integration process and the factors he claims are obstructing it. He identified what he described as “electoral autocracy” and a “narco-state” as the main …

News

Malaj: Only Two Secondary Acts Remaining Before Launch of Online Betting

The Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, stated today that the process for opening online sports betting is in its final stage, with only two secondary legal acts remaining to be approved before licensed operators can begin operating legally. In a press conference, Malaj said that these acts are being coordinated …