Why is this important: Over the years, Albania has become a hotspot for tourists drawn by its cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes, from mountain ranges to pristine beaches. This surge in visitors has had a transformative impact on the economy, generating €3.8 billion in tourism revenues during the first nine months of 2024. It reflects Albania’s successful efforts to consolidate key markets in Western Europe, such as Italy, Germany, and France, while also expanding into new regions, including Asia and the Americas.

Why is this important: For nearly 60 years, the National Library, Albania’s most important institution for preserving the country’s cultural memory has been housed in the Palace of Culture. The National Library has faced significant challenges due to inadequate space and outdated infrastructure, which have made preserving its vast collection increasingly difficult. The new project promises to provide a modern and functional solution.

Why is this important: Over the past three years, the euro has reached historically low levels against the Albanian lek. Experts attribute this to factors such as increased tourism, which has brought significant euro inflows into the local financial market, and higher remittances from Albanian emigrants in Europe. While this has benefited certain sectors, exporters have suffered the most. Many of their contracts with European partners are long-term, typically spanning 3-5 years, and the euro’s depreciation directly reduces their profits, as goods sourced domestically are paid for in lek.

Why it matters: Albanian politicians have long enjoyed impunity for statements and accusations made in Parliament and party platforms. For decades, the justice system simply ignored such cases under an unwritten justification that accusations – however wild and untrue – that were uttered during political arguments or debates were somehow excluded from legal consequences. Politicians often resorted to the vilest of accusations against their opponents and their families, safe from any consequences. However, following the justice reform things have gradually changed. Senior DP representative Ervin Salianji is serving a one-year sentence for false accusation, for fabricating audio recordings to implicate the brother of the former Minister of Interior in drug trafficking. For Bardhi the lawsuit by Sulaj, a career policeman with 28 years of service, comes fast in the heels of a warning by the Prime Minister that he is considering a lawsuit against Bardhi for the public accusations Bardhi has made against the Prime Minister’s brother. Faced with these charges, Bardhi’s legal team is attempting to shift accountability by claiming his comments targeted the police force as an institution rather than Sulaj personally. The case could set a precedent for holding politicians legally accountable for public defamation. Politically speaking, DP has long paid a serious price for these methods.

Why is this important: False accusations against political opponents have long been used in Albanian politics. Over the decades they have been one of the favorite instruments of Sali Berisha and his Democratic Party. In this they have been helped by the fact that for most of Albania’s post-communist transition the justice system preferred to remain indifferent to such accusations, tacitly recognizing them as part and parcel of politics. in his address, Rama criticized what he called “Sali Berisha’s low-moral model,” which he claimed involves personal attacks against the families of political opponents. Rama addressed decades of accusations leveled at him and his family, including fabricated stories about his personal life, psychological state, and alleged criminal activities.

Why is this important: The announcement constitutes the strongest indication yet of the opposition’s strategy to unite forces against the ruling Socialist Party, in order to bolster its electoral chances. However, Berisha gave no indications of his position vis-à-vis the newly established parties that according to opinion polls appear to be attracting a significant chunk of DP’s former electorate.

Why is this important: Elbasan Fortress, a symbol of the city’s rich history, has long suffered from neglect. The revitalization project, spearheaded by AADF in partnership with the Albanian government, aims to replicate the success seen in other cities like Tirana, Korça, Vlora, Pogradec, Berat and Kruja. These initiatives have not only restored historical landmarks but have also boosted local economies by fostering tourism and creating sustainable management models.

Why is this important: This marks the first time Albanians living abroad will be able to participate in the national elections remotely. 

Why is this important: The information discredits one of the opposition’s most significant and vocal accusations, led by Democratic Party parliamentary leader Gazment Bardhi. For years, Bardhi and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha have publicly accused Olsi Rama in involvement in the Xibraka case although they never explained what evidence there was for these claims and never formally filed an accusation with SPAK. However, DP tried hard to exploit these allegations for political ends portraying the alleged involvement of the Prime Minister’s brother with a cocaine trafficking gang as symbolic of broader government corruption and cooperation with the underworld.  In this the opposition was helped by the fact that for years SPAK remained silent on the issue, despite the Prime Minister repeatedly urging it to clarify the matter, emphasizing the need for truth. The announcement follows another recent denial of a high-profile accusation from Berisha, this time against Pandeli Majko.