Prime Minister Edi Rama is scheduled to meet with Albanians living in the United States on October 26 as part of his “Proud of Albania” tour. This tour is focused on engaging with the Albanian diaspora in various countries.

Why is it relevant: The timing of the meeting is significant, as it comes just two months before the start of the registration process for Albanians abroad who wish to vote in the 2025 elections. The diaspora vote, a long-standing demand from the diaspora, was realized earlier this year in July when the electoral code was amended with bipartisan support. The Socialist Party has shown strong commitment to gaining the support of the diaspora for the upcoming elections in May 2025. Rama has even appointed a special political leader for diaspora engagement, and meetings with various diaspora communities across Europe have already begun.

Context: Rama launched the “Proud of Albania” tour on May 12 in Athens, and later met with Albanians in Milan on May 26. However, planned meetings in London (June 2) and Düsseldorf were canceled due to snap elections in the UK and a conflict with the Albanian national football team’s schedule in Germany. The Socialist Party has confirmed that these postponed meetings will be rescheduled, though no exact dates have been announced yet.