Under Rama, Albania is failing in almost every aspect

In per capita terms, Albania has received more international assistance to fight corruption, develop civil society and independent media, and strengthen good governance than any other country in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the results in all three sectors are very poor.

At first glance, Albania seems to be developing rapidly, with large investments in construction, infrastructure and tourism. However, if you look a little deeper, you will find many characteristics of an authoritarian state.

Albania suffers from state capture, weak civil society, politicized media, a fragile judiciary and a fractured opposition more committed to protecting its leaders – Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta – from prosecution than offering an alternative. serious for the socialists in power.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, known for his love of the limelight and his dressing style that combines The Matrix and Muammar Gaddafi, wields absolute power.

Prime Minister since 2013, Rama is widely expected to win a fourth consecutive term in 2025.

His agreement this year with Italy, under which Albania will host a holding center for migrants and refugees arriving in Italy, as well as his enthusiasm for regional cooperation, have won him admirers in international circles.

But while he may be applauded by the international community, Rama is widely disliked by his own people – 49 percent according to a 2023 poll.

The poor economic situation and the lack of democratic governance have led many young Albanians to vote with their feet: 700,000 have left for Western Europe since 2008, according to Eurostat data.

They seek jobs, stability and a better future, driven by a lack of opportunities and a suffocating political climate.

The World Bank reports that 27 percent of young Albanians are unemployed and 25 percent are not in education, employment, or training.

While the World Bank has requested increased investment in human capital, Rama has prioritized short-term and high-impact projects in the capital, Tirana. These projects are visible to all and financially profitable for some, but they do not benefit the population or the Albanian society as a whole.

In a July report on Albania's investment climate, the U.S. State Department described corruption as "systemic" ahead of a sweeping overhaul of the judicial system under Rama in 2016. But allegations of corruption in government procurement remain "commonplace," he said. , citing investors who have reported "instances of government corruption that delays and prevents investments in Albania".

Over the past two years, several high-profile figures from Rama's inner circle have been accused of corruption, particularly in the case of the construction and operation of a waste incinerator in Tirana worth $100 million.

A former deputy prime minister involved has fled and sought asylum in Switzerland, while Tirana's socialist mayor has been questioned and some of his staff connected to the case have also left the country. Mayor Erion Veliaj has denied any violation.

The incinerator has not been built, and taxpayers have been left with a $24 million-a-year bill for a private company that dumps the city's waste in a landfill.

Rama, as head of the Territorial Development Agency, signed off on the incinerator project, but has distanced himself from the scandal, saying it has to do with the actions of individuals, not his government.

The only bright spot seems to be the US-backed Special Task Force Against Corruption and Organized Crime, or SPAK.

Since its inception in 2019, SPAK has sued hundreds of business leaders, as well as former and current government officials. A number of prominent figures have fled the country, while others are in prison or under house arrest awaiting trial. At this rate, some Albanians joke that there will be no politician left to run the country.

How far SPAK will go, remains very much in doubt.

Rama enjoys strong international support and lacks any credible challenger. No evidence has emerged to incriminate him for bribery or link him to the offshore accounts so often involved in concessions and construction projects. But the prime minister has faced accusations of using public tenders to reward friends and punish enemies.

Meanwhile, SPAK has been criticized for its focus on corruption after a transaction is completed, neglecting the fact that the process leading to these transactions is often just as, if not more, corrupt. This selective approach undermines the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts, as it fails to address the root causes and mechanisms of corruption within the system.

In the coming years, Albania will receive investments of billions of dollars from the United Arab Emirates and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of the former American president and the current Republican candidate, Donald Trump.

The United Arab Emirates plans to invest $2 billion in transforming the Port of Durrës on the Adriatic Sea to accommodate tourists and yachts. Kushner intends to invest $1 billion to turn Sazan Island, a former military base, into a luxury eco-resort under the prestigious Aman brand. These projects will be the biggest investments in Albania.

As both the European Union and the US have repeatedly emphasized over the past 30 years, to truly fight corruption it is essential to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process, from the award of contracts to their final execution. Such an approach helps prevent the manipulation of state resources for personal or political gain, thus promoting a fairer system of governance. To date, Albania has failed.

Given the significant flow of funds from these investments, the US may consider promoting an equivalent of SPAK to oversee the seeking and awarding of government contracts and concessions. This would help distribute the wealth more equitably rather than concentrating it among a select circle of Rama's associates.

Such a move could pave the way for alternative political parties, providing much-needed fresh voices. Otherwise, we risk being constantly distracted by Rama's fancy dress and his tendency to put high-end apartment blocks ahead of urgent development needs./ birn