Edi Rama issues apology after controversial remark draws public reaction

As the May 11 election draws closer, Albania’s political campaign has entered a more intense and verbally confrontational phase. On Tuesday, during a campaign rally in Gjirokastër, in the south of Albania, Prime Minister Edi Rama launched a broadside against the opposition, accusing it of bringing crises whenever in power. He controversially referred to those who still support an opposition with such a record of governance as “politically autistic”. The term, once used more casually in Albania, sparked immediate backlash this time—reflecting a shift in public awareness and sensitivity.

Why is this important: The phrase was seen as offensive and discriminatory particularly by parents and advocates of children with autism. While political rhetoric in Albania is often sharp, such language rarely receives public retractions. Rama’s decision to apologize later the same day stands out as an unusual moment of accountability in Albanian political discourse.

Context: While outlining past episodes of turmoil, chaos and violence under the Democratic Party (DP) and Sali Berisha’s rule – including the violent anarchy of 1997 due to the of the financial pyramid schemes, the 1998 armed attack on the Prime Minister’s office and other public institutions in an apparent coup d’etat, the 2008 Gërdec explosion that killed 27 people, and the 2011 protest where four civilians were killed by the Republican Guard – Rama criticized those who continue to support former Prime Minister Sali Berisha.

“Whoever follows Berisha’s party after everything that’s happened… suffers from political autism,” he said.

Civil society, opposition figures, and especially parents of children with autism condemned the language as inappropriate and took to social media to demand an apology.

Rama’s apology: A few hours later, Rama issued a public statement acknowledging the harm caused:

“To err is human, but to not apologize is cowardly. Today I unintentionally hurt children with autism and surely pained their parents by using the term ‘political autism.’ The phrase popped into my head, perhaps because I had encountered it in political or academic literature. But I learned today that it’s considered inappropriate — rightly so.”

Rama emphasized his support for children with special needs and their families, citing his pledge to double government assistance for them in the 2026 budget:

“I do not simply respect them, I admire them. That’s why I’ve pushed for doubling state support for these children and their parents. Let my mistake serve as a lesson and a motivation to fight even harder on May 11 against those who exploit such issues for political gain.”