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Albania
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Albania exhibits mid-range performance across all categories of democracy in the Global State of Democracy Indices (GSoDI), scoring in the top 25 per cent globally for Freedom of Religion and Access to Justice. Albania performs in the high range with regard to Freedom of Religion, Elected Government, Inclusive Suffrage, and Freedom of Movement. Between 2018 and 2023, the country experienced significant advances in Access to Justice, but saw notable declines in Economic Equality. It has been a candidate country for the European Union since 2014, and accession negotiations were initiated in July 2022. The Albanian economy is weakly diversified, mainly dependent on services, agriculture, and a rapidly growing tourism sector, which made Tirana’s airport the most visited in the Western Balkans in 2024. The country struggles with high emigration and is heavily reliant on neighbouring countries for trade and remittances. Albania’s transition to a market economy has been characterised by corrupt privatisation efforts and state-led pyramid schemes.
Albania declared independence in 1912 after nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule. After World War II, the country experienced one of the most brutal communist regimes for forty years, becoming one of the most isolated and poorest countries in the world. Following the death of dictator Enver Hoxha, Albania transitioned to democracy after 1990. The consequences of the totalitarian past persist in its society. Albania is one of the most homogeneous countries in Europe and does not exhibit any major politically salient ethnic or religious cleavages, and the country is known for religious tolerance. Instead, ingrained domestic regional divisions between North and South are the major fault lines in Albania. There is economic disparity between the more developed South and the less developed North, as well as between rural and urban areas. Despite recent changes, people from the North tend to generally vote for the Democratic Party (PD), while voters in the South often support the Socialist Party (PS) due to the origin of the parties' leaders and the resulting clientelist ties. The post-communist legacy adds another layer to the regional divide, as PD represents a strong anti-communist stance, whereas the South was the birthplace of the communist dictator Enver Hoxha and PS is the successor of his political party. Allegations of ties with the communist regime are part of the usual discourse to discredit political opponents.
Politics tend to be highly personalised and polarized, fuelling partisan violence in society. Democratization was overseen by elites involved in clan politics, fostering a culture of corruption that hindered strong institutions and economic growth. However, the establishment of Albania’s Special Courts against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) has recently led to investigations, arrest warrants and the questioning of high-level politicians, including former presidents, a prime minister, a deputy prime minister, and MPs.
In recent years, Albania has made important progress on gender equality through the development of the National Strategy for Gender Equality (2021-2030) and multiple laws. Progress is evidenced in the increased representation of women in politics, with more than half of the government ministers being women. Nevertheless, gender equality is challenged by systemic issues – gender differences in education, gender gaps in economic opportunities, and widespread gender-based violence – coupled with weaknesses in the implementation of laws. Despite ongoing discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community, Albania made progress by becoming the third European country to ban “conversion therapy” in 2020.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch Rule of Law, particularly Absence of Corruption, Judicial Independence and Predictable Enforcement, especially in light of the recent SPAK investigations into high-level corruption. If materialized, these structural reforms have the potential to eradicate entrenched corruption, paving the way for changes in other areas, such as reducing or reversing brain drain, emigration, and leading to increased trust in the government, potentially impacting Credible Elections, Civic Engagement and Electoral Participation. These reforms, along with the country’s success in tourism, could influence Basic Welfare and Economic Equality.
Last updated: June 2024
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February 2024
Parliament approves controversial deal to detain migrants for Italy
On 22 February, the parliament ratified a deal between Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which will lead to the transfer of asylum seekers rescued at sea by Italian authorities to Italian-funded detention centers in Albania. Women, children and individuals deemed “vulnerable” will be exempt from the centers, sparking concerns about potential family separations. Experts and rights groups say the deal breaches international law, has legal ambiguities and will likely impact protection of rights. The deal was previously ruled constitutional by the Albanian Constitutional Court and was approved by the Italian Senate. Opposition MPs criticized the deal for its lack of transparency and threats to national security, while the Italian center-left opposition MPs called it a “shameful attempt” to turn Albania into Italy's version of "Guantanamo”. While the Constitutional Court said Albanian law would apply in the detention centers, Italian PM Meloni stated they would fall under Italian jurisdiction. The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights warned the deal “will likely undermine crucial human rights safeguards.”
Sources: Reporter.al, Euronews, Euronews Albania, Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Verfassungsblog, International IDEA
December 2023
Parliament lifts immunity for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha
The parliament revoked former President and Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s immunity on 21 December. Berisha, who faces corruption charges from the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), currently leads the opposition Democratic Party. The decision received support from 75 MPs, slightly over half of the 140 assembly members, with 73 votes coming from the ruling Socialist Party group and two from Social Democrat MPs. Following this, Berisha was placed under house arrest for violating prior restrictive measures and was prohibited from traveling abroad.
Sources: International IDEA, Tirana Times, Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), The Guardian, Top channel
October 2023
SPAK charges former President and PM Sali Berisha with corruption
The Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), vested with constitutional powers and established as part of the EU reforms required for initiating accession talks, has maintained its recently established track record of investigating corruption and crime at the highest levels. In its latest indictment, SPAK has accused Sali Berisha, former President (1992-1997) and Prime Minister (2005-2013) and current leader of the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, with corruption, alongside his son-in-law. Berisha stands accused of exerting pressure during his premiership to profit from a deal in which publicly owned sports grounds in Tirana were privatized and subsequently converted into a multi-storey housing development. Berisha and his son-in-law are thought to have jointly profited with EUR 5.4 million and the crime is punishable with up to 12 years of jail time. Berisha has called the accusations “baseless” and frames them as a political attack by current Prime Minister Edi Rama. It is unclear when the criminal proceedings will conclude.
Sources: Balkan Insight, Lapsi, Reuters, Euractiv
September 2023
Former environment minister sentenced to prison for corruption
Lefter Koka, former environment minister, has been convicted of corruption charges in “the incinerator affair”, which implicated numerous high-ranking politicians. Koka was sentenced to prison for his role in the EUR 280 million concessionary agreement between the government and a private company. The agreement aimed to construct a waste incinerator that ultimately remained unfinished. In July, an arrest warrant was also issued for Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj due to his alleged involvement in the case. Ahmetaj as well as the two businesspeople behind the incinerator contracts are on the run. This corruption scandal, one of the biggest in recent years, has cost taxpayers approximately EUR 150 million.
Sources: Balkan Insight, International IDEA, TV Klan
Corruption scandals trigger significant cabinet reshuffle
Prime Minister Edi Rama has replaced seven ministers, including the Ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs following multiple corruption scandals involving his political associates. During a speech, Rama highlighted the importance of the institutions in the fight against corruption at all levels and urged ministers to uphold honesty. This represents one of the most extensive cabinet reshuffles since the Socialist Party assumed office in 2013. Some political analysts believe that this reshuffling is symbolic and might not signify genuine change.
Sources: Euractiv, Balkan Insight, Gazeta Tema
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GSoD Indices Data 2014-2023
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