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President Begaj’s message after voting in Tirana

President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj has voted this Sunday at the “Congress of Lushnja” 9-year secondary school, which is serving as a polling station. After performing the biometric voting process as he was accompanied by his wife, President Begaj underlined that today is important for democracy in Albania. Furthermore, …

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Over 530 polling stations not identifying voters electronically; CEC’s head

Head of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi has informed Sunday that electronic identification of voters is not being carried out in at least 532 polling stations. In the first press conference related to the local elections, the Elections Commissioner stressed that there are 4469 polling stations that work …

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Albania elections, Berisha: This is “Spring of Change”

Berisha has considered Election Day the “Spring of Change”, while inviting Albanians to vote. “A call from the heart to all Albanian citizens. To speak today with their vote for local government. All those who were invited by the vicious enemy of the free vote to stay at home should …

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EU ambassador invites citizens to vote

Ambassador of the European Union in Albania, Christinane Hohmann, has chosen this Sunday Elbasan to observe close-up the local polls process for the election of this municipality’s Mayor. In her speech, Hohmann stated that so far the day is calm and asked the citizens to participate in the elections and …

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Fushe-Kruja, unidentified person throw opposition commissioner out of polling center

An incident has been recorded this Sunday in the voting center 1302/1 in the city of Fushë-Kruja. According to the police, unidentified persons entered this polling center and removed the opposition commissioner, Ilir Hyka from the premises. The Police Services, immediately after receiving the notification, went to the Voting Center …

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Albanians head to polls to elect mayors, municipal councils 

TIRANA, May 13, 2023 – Albania’s voters will head to polls Sunday to elect mayors and councils for the country’s 61 municipalities in the first competitive administrative elections in eight years. Two groupings have fielded the most mayoral candidates — the ruling Socialist Party of Albania (SPA) and the Together …

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Athens Condemns Alleged Vote-Buying Arrest of Greek Politician in Albania

Police arrested Fredi Beleri, a Greek expatriate mayoral candidate in the southern Albanian municipality of Himara, on suspicion of vote-buying, sparking diplomatic protests from Athens. Original post Here

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Albania, Greece spar over mayoral candidate’s arrest 

TIRANA, May 12, 2023 – Albanian police have arrested the opposition’s candidate for the mayor of Himara on charges of vote buying, leading to a spat between Greek and Albanian authorities over the ethnic Greek party representative’s detention two days before the Albanian municipal elections.  The arrested candidate, Fredi Beleri, …

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The arrest of Fredi Beleri, the Greek ambassador emergency meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Greek ambassador in Tirana, Kostandina Kamitsi, met this morning with the director of the region at the Albanian Foreign Ministry. The Greek diplomat has expressed to the Albanian side her concern about the arrest of Fredi Beleri, the candidate of the “Bashkë Fitojmë” coalition for the municipality of Himara. …

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Fredi Beleri’s arrest, Dendias calls Rama

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias contacted Prime Minister Edi Rama after the arrest of Fredi Beleri for vote buying. The conversation between them comes after the Greek ambassador in Tirana, Konstantina Kamitsi, following Dendia’s instructions, held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sources told ABC News that the …

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PM Rama says Zvërnec protests misrepresented by international media

TIRANA, June 7 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said protests against a proposed investment in Zvërnec have been exaggerated by international media, arguing that no approved project currently exists. In a message addressed to international news organizations, including CNN International, Rama said the latest protest drew about 2,000 participants. …

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Kosova votes as citizens elect 120-seat parliament

TIRANA, June 7 – Voters in Kosova headed to the polls on Saturday to elect the 11th legislature of the 120-seat parliament. The Central Election Commission distributed voting materials across all 38 municipalities. A total of 23 political parties and three coalitions are competing, with 917 candidates running for office. …

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Spring Festival names 12 finalists after opening night

TIRANA, June 7 – The Spring Festival returned to the Albanian stage after a 23-year break. It selected 12 finalists on its opening night, in a show marked by nostalgia, live orchestration and competition. The event took place at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. It brought together emerging …

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Lake Shkodër receives UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status

TIRANA, June 6 – Lake Shkodër has received UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, gaining international recognition for one of Albania’s most important natural assets. Meanwhile, Shkodër Mayor Benet Beci describes the decision as a source of pride for the city and for communities living around the lake. He says the designation …

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Spring Festival returns to RTSH as 20 artists compete on opening night

TIRANA, June 6 – The Spring Festival returns to the Albanian Public Radio and Television tonight after a long absence. Twenty artists will take the stage in the opening show, which will feature special guests and a mix of classic and contemporary music. Meanwhile, the festival’s hosts, singer Bleona Qereti …

News
PM Rama: Iran Is Behind Tirana Protests

The prime minister casts the widening unrest as a “hybrid war,” citing antisemitic narratives, claims about resettling Palestinians and AI-manipulated content. Tirana Times, June 6, 2026 — Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused Iran of standing behind the growing protests in Tirana against the proposed Zvërnec tourism project, shifting the …

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Western Balkans – EU summit in Montenegro pushes for faster enlargement and reforms

TIRANA, June 6 – European Union and Western Balkan leaders meet in Tivat for the Western Balkans–EU summit. They focus on speeding up enlargement and advancing reforms across candidate countries. Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa says enlargement remains merit-based, but he adds that the process must become faster and …

News
Nik Xhelilaj and Bleona Qereti host revived RTSH’s Spring Festival

TIRANA, June 6 – The Spring Festival returns to Albania after two decades. It takes place on June 6 and 7 at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana. The event brings together established and emerging artists. Organisers present the festival as a revival of a major cultural …

News
Rama: Sazan Island Remains State Property, Not for Privatization

Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Sazan Island will remain property of the Albanian state. He stressed that it will not be privatized. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Vlora, Rama said Sazan is a national asset. Therefore, any development project will be carried out in partnership …

News
EU Leaders: Albania Next in Line After Montenegro for Membership

Albania received strong support from European Union leaders at the summit in Tivat, Montenegro. EU officials said the country is moving in the right direction toward membership. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s goals are clear. She stated that Montenegro is expected to join the EU …

News

PM Rama says Zvërnec protests misrepresented by international media

TIRANA, June 7 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said protests against a proposed investment in Zvërnec have been exaggerated by international media, arguing that no approved project currently exists. In a message addressed to international news organizations, including CNN International, Rama said the latest protest drew about 2,000 participants. …

News

Kosova votes as citizens elect 120-seat parliament

TIRANA, June 7 – Voters in Kosova headed to the polls on Saturday to elect the 11th legislature of the 120-seat parliament. The Central Election Commission distributed voting materials across all 38 municipalities. A total of 23 political parties and three coalitions are competing, with 917 candidates running for office. …

News

Spring Festival names 12 finalists after opening night

TIRANA, June 7 – The Spring Festival returned to the Albanian stage after a 23-year break. It selected 12 finalists on its opening night, in a show marked by nostalgia, live orchestration and competition. The event took place at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. It brought together emerging …

News

Lake Shkodër receives UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status

TIRANA, June 6 – Lake Shkodër has received UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, gaining international recognition for one of Albania’s most important natural assets. Meanwhile, Shkodër Mayor Benet Beci describes the decision as a source of pride for the city and for communities living around the lake. He says the designation …

News

Spring Festival returns to RTSH as 20 artists compete on opening night

TIRANA, June 6 – The Spring Festival returns to the Albanian Public Radio and Television tonight after a long absence. Twenty artists will take the stage in the opening show, which will feature special guests and a mix of classic and contemporary music. Meanwhile, the festival’s hosts, singer Bleona Qereti …

News

PM Rama: Iran Is Behind Tirana Protests

The prime minister casts the widening unrest as a “hybrid war,” citing antisemitic narratives, claims about resettling Palestinians and AI-manipulated content. Tirana Times, June 6, 2026 — Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused Iran of standing behind the growing protests in Tirana against the proposed Zvërnec tourism project, shifting the …

News

Western Balkans – EU summit in Montenegro pushes for faster enlargement and reforms

TIRANA, June 6 – European Union and Western Balkan leaders meet in Tivat for the Western Balkans–EU summit. They focus on speeding up enlargement and advancing reforms across candidate countries. Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa says enlargement remains merit-based, but he adds that the process must become faster and …

News

Nik Xhelilaj and Bleona Qereti host revived RTSH’s Spring Festival

TIRANA, June 6 – The Spring Festival returns to Albania after two decades. It takes place on June 6 and 7 at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana. The event brings together established and emerging artists. Organisers present the festival as a revival of a major cultural …

News

Rama: Sazan Island Remains State Property, Not for Privatization

Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Sazan Island will remain property of the Albanian state. He stressed that it will not be privatized. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Vlora, Rama said Sazan is a national asset. Therefore, any development project will be carried out in partnership …

News

EU Leaders: Albania Next in Line After Montenegro for Membership

Albania received strong support from European Union leaders at the summit in Tivat, Montenegro. EU officials said the country is moving in the right direction toward membership. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s goals are clear. She stated that Montenegro is expected to join the EU …