Albania’s parliament confirmed a fourth consecutive four-year mandate for Prime Minister Edi Rama, but the event is making international news not because of the result—which was never in doubt—but because of the chaos and controversy that surrounded it.
A vote without suspense
The ruling Socialist Party holds a firm majority in parliament, meaning Rama’s government faced no real risk of rejection. The confidence vote was assured from the outset. What captured attention instead was the unconventional presentation of “Diella,” an artificial intelligence–generated robot introduced by Rama as a symbolic minister for transparency in public tenders.
Reuters: Albania’s tarnished image
Reuters reported that Albania’s global image “has been damaged by corruption scandals” and that the country is viewed as a hub for gangs laundering drug and arms trafficking money, complicating its EU membership goal for 2030. The agency highlighted the backlash against Diella, with the opposition labeling the appointment “unconstitutional” since the robot is not a human being, lacks citizenship, and could enable further corruption.
ANSA and Greek media on the uproar
Italy’s ANSA noted that a special session, planned to last 25 hours, collapsed in just 25 minutes after opposition lawmakers rejected Diella’s pre-recorded video message and accused Rama of humiliating parliament by bypassing debate.
Greek outlets Kathimerini and Protothema described scenes of disorder, with opposition MPs throwing the Constitution and parliamentary rulebooks at the prime minister. The “apple of discord,” they wrote, was Diella’s unprecedented appearance as a “virtual minister.”
Opposition fury
Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha condemned the mandate as built on “crime, corruption, and drugs,” calling Rama “the head of a criminal organization.” Berisha described the session as “the most shameful moment in the history of parliament,” underscoring the depth of political mistrust.
Global echo
American outlets including ABC News and the Washington Times also covered the story, stressing the novelty of a government presenting an AI “minister” in parliament. Canada’s Toronto Star echoed concerns that the stunt underscored both Rama’s appetite for innovation and the fragility of Albania’s institutions.
Bottom line
While the outcome of the confidence vote was never in question, the optics of Albania’s parliamentary session sent ripples far beyond Tirana. The theatrics around Diella may have been intended to project modernization, but instead, they magnified doubts about transparency, governance, and Albania’s path toward EU integration.