Why is this important: The issue of open versus closed candidate lists has long been a point of contention in Albania’s political discussions. Party leaders from major political forces have historically found common ground when it comes to maintaining their authority over candidate selection.

Why is this important: TikTok, one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, is to be temporarily restricted in Albania due to concerns raised by the government and students’ families after the killing of a 14-year-old by a classmate following a fight on TikTok. The discussions aim to explore ways to address these issues and establish safeguards before the platform’s potential reactivation. The resolution of this matter could set a precedent for how Albania manages digital platforms and their compliance with national regulations.

Why is this important: January 21 is one of the most tragic and shocking crimes in Albania’s post-communist transition. It is also one of the best documented. The killing of at least one of the protestors who was not engaged in any action at the time he was shot but was simply standing with his hands in his pockets, was filmed and transmitted to all television screens shocking Albanians. Just as public were Berisha’s frantic attempts first to shift blame to the opposition for having shot its own people, and later, following the transmission of the videos, to prevent a proper investigation by obstructing the prosecution and threatening both the Attorney General and the then opposition. And yet investigations into these events have not progressed even though investigations were reopened by SPAK in July 2022 following a High Court directive. They were first stalled by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office and now by SPAK. The lack of resolution in this case has raised questions about the effectiveness of Albania’s justice reforms and the ability to hold those in power accountable.

Why is this important: Providing an accurate address is crucial for delivering voting envelopes to registered diaspora voters. Without a document verifying residency, the application is automatically invalidated, and the Central Election Commission’s electronic system disqualifies the applicant. Applicants are notified of the error via SMS or email and have the right to reapply with corrected information.