Latest Edi Rama News

Albanians abroad will vote for the first time in parliamentary elections set for May

Dec. 05, 2024 12:06 PM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s president on Thursday set May 11 as the date for the country’s next parliamentary election, and Albanians living in other countries will for the first time be able to cast ballots from overseas. Albania's number of potential voters is 3.6...

Albanian opposition leader facing corruption charges is released from house arrest

Nov. 27, 2024 08:40 AM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court on Wednesday released from house arrest former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is charged with corruption. The Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, which covers cases involving senior...

Albanian opposition supporters block the capital’s streets in an anti-government rally

Nov. 26, 2024 14:07 PM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian opposition lawmakers and their supporters blocked the capital's main streets for hours Tuesday accusing the government of corruption and demanding it be replaced by a technocratic caretaker Cabinet until 2025 parliamentary elections. Hundreds of...

At UN climate talks, nations big and small get chance to bear witness to climate change

Nov. 13, 2024 18:06 PM EST

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — More than two dozen world leaders delivered remarks at the United Nations' annual climate conference Wednesday, with many hard-hit nations detailing their nations' firsthand experience with the catastrophic weather that has come with climate change. Leader...

Albania aims to join the European Union by 2030, prime minister tells expatriates in Greek city

Nov. 03, 2024 15:35 PM EST

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Albania hopes to join the European Union by 2030, Prime Minister Edi Rama told a crowd of some 2,000 supporters at a hotel in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Sunday. Rama also promised that the numerous Albanian expatriates will be able for...

Albania's opposition blocks roads in a protest to demand a caretaker Cabinet

Oct. 29, 2024 23:16 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian opposition activists blocked major roads for several hours Tuesday in a nationwide rally demanding that the government be replaced by a technocratic caretaker Cabinet before the 2025 parliamentary election. Lawmakers led hundreds of opposition...

EU stays on the sidelines over migrant deal between Italy and Albania

Oct. 23, 2024 14:18 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A top European Union official on Wednesday refused to be drawn on an opinion of an agreement between Italy and Albania to process some migrants in centers set up in the tiny Western Balkan country, saying only that it was being closely monitored. European...

A court says former Albanian president Meta must stay in custody during corruption investigation

Oct. 23, 2024 13:01 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court on Wednesday ruled that former President Ilir Meta should stay in custody while the left-wing Freedom Party leader faces allegations of corruption, money laundering and the hiding of personal income and property. Prosecutors have not yet...

European Commission chief assures Western Balkans of the bloc's enlargement progress

Oct. 23, 2024 12:21 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began a tour of the Western Balkan countries on Wednesday, assuring them that the enlargement of the trade bloc remained one of its priorities. The Western Balkans countrie s — Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo,...

Albania's left-wing former President Meta is arrested on corruption allegations

Oct. 21, 2024 13:55 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian prosecutors on Monday arrested former President Ilir Meta on suspicion that the left-wing Freedom Party leader engaged in alleged corruption, money laundering and hiding of personal income and property. A lawyer for Meta, who was president from...