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The long shadow of January 21: a lingering failure for Albania’s new justice system
Fourteen years have passed since January 21, 2011, when four protesters were fatally shot in front of Albania’s Prime Minister’s office. Fourteen years since a shocking display of state violence...
SPAK’s investigation of Mayor of Tirana: an anonymous “accuser” and suspicion of political motives fuel controversy
By Mero Baze The Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj publicly acknowledged today that the latest “accuser” against him is an anonymous individual and SPAK prosecutor Olsi Dado has not even...
Editorial note: The opposition’s protest that wasn’t
The latest civil disobedience protest organized by Albania’s Democratic Party (DP) has come and gone, leaving barely a ripple in its wake. Held under relentless cold rain, the protest seemed...
Editorial: Urgent EU and US action required in Kosovo following the Zubin Potok canal attack
Friday’s terrorist attack on the water canal in Zubin Potok in northern Kosovo, underscores the fragile state of stability in Kosovo. The Zubin Potok canal attack is emblematic of the...
Editorial note: Opposition’s October 7 protest, a study in self-destruction
Economic historian Carlo M. Cipolla famously defined stupidity as causing harm without gaining any benefit. The leaders of the Albanian Democratic Party (DP) would have done well to remember this...
Editorial note: Albanian opposition leader’s attacks on media on eve of protest must be condemned by all
The leader of Albania’s opposition Democratic Party, former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, has launched a vicious verbal attack on journalists and analysts, accusing them of serving Prime Minister Edi Rama....
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The Democratic Party must stop digging
Published on September 30, 2024
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld once said, “When you’re in a hole, stop digging.” One cannot think of better advice for the Democratic...
By Maklen Misha
What the Bektashis are really asking for
Published on September 26, 2024
The only positive thing that came from the public disclosure of Edi Rama’s proposal for the sovereignty of the Bektashi Order, aimed at granting international...
By Mero Baze
Why should we tolerate Tanja Fajon’s insult?
Published on August 27, 2024
When I heard that the Slovenian politician, Tanja Fajon came to Tirana and said that Albania could join the EU by 2030, I realized that...
By Ben Blushi
The Democratic Party must support external voting for the Diaspora
Published on July 9, 2024
Few were surprised by the inability of Albania’s two main political forces to reach consensus on electoral reform. The parties were simply too far in...