Failure of the meeting for the regulatory commission of elections in Himara, Socialist Party sues CEC
The Socialist Party has filed a lawsuit against the Central Election Commission (CEC). ABC News journalist Fjona Xhafaj reports that the lawsuit from the socialists came after the Regulatory Commission in the CEC did not approve some procedural deadlines for the partial elections in Himara that will be held on …
Altin Dumani present the SPAK report to the deputies
Monday’s plenary session will focus on justice institutions. The agenda includes the reports of the General Prosecutor’s Office, SPAK, ILD, KLGJ and KLP, with the presence of their leaders. “Olsian Çela will start reporting and then Altin Dumani. This of course comes at a time when SPAK has important issues …
The law for arms trade/ Minister Tabaku: It is changing twice in a few months
The Parliament has approved the request of the Council of Ministers to pass with an accelerated procedure a draft law on weapons and ammunition. This caused debates from the opposition, where MP Jorida Tabaku said that the law is changing twice in a few months at the request of an …
Decriminalization/ Chief Prosecutor: In 2023, 77 people were registered for in-depth verification
Chief Prosecutor Olsian Cela says that during 2023, related to decriminalization, out of 91 new requests, 77 processes were registered for in-depth verification. While reporting to the Parliament of Albania, C ela stated that of these, 38 requests were made by the Department of Public Administration and 39 by the …
Albania’s Promised ‘Open Government’ Remains on Paper Only
More than a decade since it joined, Albania has made little progress in fulfilling the commitments made under the US ‘Open Government’ initiative. Original post Here
LGBT Pride and Euro 2024 Become Focus for Online Hate Speech
BIRN’s roundup of digital rights violations for June shows how marches to celebrate LGBT Pride month attracted online insults and threats, while nationalists used the Euro 2024 football tournament to voice ethnic slurs on social media. Original post Here
Tirana/ 13 arrested in one week for various criminal offenses
Thirteen people have been arrested and 13 citizens have been prosecuted for various criminal offenses in the field of road traffic in one week. 13,578 administrative measures have been imposed: 34 measures for black glasses. 1447 measures for speeding over the permitted rates. 452 measures for mobile phone use while …
“Maritime Security”/ From Ksamil to Velipoja, the border police block 34 vessels
The Border Police has blocked 34 vessels, from Ksamil to Velipojë, within the “Maritime Security” operation. The Maritime Police Unit and the Border Police have intensified controls along the entire coastline, lake and river areas. During this week, the Border Police blocked 34 vessels, of which 24 jet skis, 6 …
Trump assassination attempt, Rama: This is a tragedy for the democratic world
Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Through a post on social networks, Rama says that it is disturbing to see that a candidate for president in the USA is shot during a rally and where one person remained a victim. …
The permit is approved, Beleri will be sworn in as an MEP in Strasbourg
The Directorate of Prisons approves the permit for Alfred Beleri to participate in the European Parliament. ABC News has learned that Beleri will travel alone, unaccompanied by prison officials. Just a few days ago, Athens officially asked Tirana for permission for Fredi Beleri to go to Strasbourg to participate in …
TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …
Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here
by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …
In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here
The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here
A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here
TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …
Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here
Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here