Three figures with different profiles but with a common commitment to public and political issues have emerged as important voices of the new opposition in Albania.
Ermal Hasimja, Edlira Çepani and Florian Haçka are the three names for the candidacy of the Tirana Municipality for the Democratic Party in the early elections against the Socialists' Manasitirlut.
Candidate profiles:
Ermal Hasimja , a lecturer and political analyst, is one of the most well-known names for his critical stances and in-depth analyses of political developments in the country. He was part of the Policy Orientation Committee (KOP) in the 2005 campaign that brought the Democratic Party to power. Active in the media and the academic world, Hasimja has built a stable profile as a critical and argumentative voice in public discourse.
Edlira Çepani is one of the most prominent voices in the field of women's rights and gender equality. An activist and public figure, she has been part of several initiatives aimed at empowering women in politics and decision-making. Also known for her personal and family involvement in politics, Çepani is the wife of the late Gerti Bogdani, former DP MP, with whom she has two children.
Florian Haçka, another prominent civic figure, has stood out through his commitment to the issue of voting rights for Albanians abroad. He is a co-founder of the “Diaspora for a Free Albania” initiative and has been active in institutional clashes related to this topic, including a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court and the confrontation with the revocation of the Albanian passport. With professional training in Switzerland and Germany, Haçka has also contributed to fields such as technology, tourism and management.
This Wednesday, the opposition found consensus for a joint candidate for Tirana.