PM’s Order to Sing National Anthem in Schools Divides Albanians

Not all people in Albania have welcomed Prime Minister Edi Rama's order that school pupils sing the national anthem in a ceremonial setting once a week.

One critic has called it "idiotic nationalism" while others see it as part of the Rama's attempt to coopt nationalism in his politics at a time when he is under attack for alleged corruption

Rama, who has flirted with nationalism before since taking power almost a decade ago, used January 17, the 555th anniversary of the death of national hero Skanderbeg, to make the announcement.

"Good morning, with the 'Hymn of the Flag' that is being sung by all pupils of [pubic] schools, today, on the 555th anniversary of the death of our national hero Gjergj Kastrioti SKANDERBEG, and with a decision that the hymn will be sung in each school each start of the week, I wish you a good day," Rama wrote on a Facebook video showing pupils singing.

Lea Ypi, an Albanian from the London School of Economics, LSE, called the initiative "idiotic nationalism".

"Clearly what the world needs right now is more idiotic nationalism," she commented on Twitter.

"What should be made compulsory in schools is feminist and ecological education, not nationalism," agreed Gresa Hasa, a human rights activist in Tirana.

Skanderbeg died in 1468 after a life spent fighting the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans. His legend has inspired nationalism in Albania since the 19th century.

During the Communist era, his cult was further developed. Historical documents show how Communist-era propagandists hailed Skanderbeg as a template for the cult of the Communist dictator Enver Hoxha. The Academy of Science emphasized his disagreements with the Vatican to present a non-religious figure at a time when the...