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DW: Rama, an authoritarian! The rule of law and democracy, successes only on paper

Politiko 2025-05-12 11:32:31

DW: Rama, an authoritarian! The rule of law and democracy, successes only on

After the elections in Albania, German media mentions the possibility that Prime Minister Edi Rama will seek a fourth term. But it also reflects on the current situation in Albania, emphasizing that although Edi Rama and the Socialist Party are heading for victory, they are contested in domestic politics.

The newspaper  "Neue Zürcher Zeitung"  under the headline  "Edi Rama will be Albania's prime minister for the fourth time - portrait of a permanent non-conformist" underlines today that we should not be deceived by Rama's image as an outsider in politics.

"The likely winner of the elections is a politician hungry for power ," writes NZZ.

Andreas Ernst, after mentioning Rama's success as mayor of Tirana, refers to the change in the capital and emphasizes that everything that goes wrong in Albania is centered on this construction boom in Tirana.

“The economy of the factions grants building permits to their own people and the awarding of tenders depends on political connections, dirty money and returning favors.” NZZ also looks at the expected election victory of the Socialists and emphasizes that “ Rama’s well-oiled clientelistic system is one explanation for the Socialists’ electoral success. The other explanation is his opponent, the 81-year-old Sali Berisha. Unlike Rama, he is an old-fashioned autocrat, not original, cosmopolitan or charming.” 

NZZ further notes about Edi Rama that “ at the latest in 2005, when he took power in the SP, it became clear that he is first and foremost a politician thirsty for power, who in politics knows only friends and enemies . [.. ]Rama set up a power apparatus as is known in many countries in the region: He is the head of a party that controls the administration, the courts and many media outlets.”

In the German media, Rama is portrayed as a truly pro-European, unconventional artist who is very well received in Brussels, because his politics are EU-compliant, but also quite contested.

“Elections in Albania: How authoritarian is Edi Rama?” asks one of the largest German radio stations,  “Dlf”  in an extensive weekend chronicle. “Edi Rama is a welcome friend in the EU, and it seems that ideologically and geopolitically he stands firmly on the side of Europe. But critics fear that Albania’s successes on issues such as the rule of law and democracy are successes only on paper, and that the country is not ready for EU membership. This also has to do with Edi Rama showing authoritarian traits.”

“Parliamentary elections in Albania: NATO’s place on the path to EU membership”  is the headline with which  “Frankfurter Rundschau”  pays attention to the elections in Albania, emphasizing that the incumbent prime minister could get his fourth mandate. But despite his EU ambitions, his domestic policy is contested. “ According to the electoral commission, the first results should come out on Tuesday. Sunday’s vote is seen as an important test of the mood on Albania’s path to EU membership.”

The newspaper  “Zeit”  pays attention to the post-election results. “After the parliamentary elections in Albania on Sunday, a victory for the Socialist Party (SP) of Prime Minister Edi Rama is emerging. After less than a third of the votes were counted, around 53 percent of them went to the SP, according to the Central Election Commission. [..] Rama, 60, has led the SP since 2005 and is seeking a fourth consecutive term as prime minister. During the election campaign, he declared that he would continue efforts for EU membership by 2030, so that all Albanians benefit from ‘the same rights as citizens of other European countries’. Rama has been repeatedly accused by the opposition of contacts with organized crime, which Rama denies. “/ DW

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