Albanian Institute for Political Studies

Albania's Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has appointed four ministers who come from Kosovo, sending a "political message" about his ambitions to play a wider role in the region, experts said.

On Saturday, Rama presented 33 government vice ministers, four of whom are professionals from Kosovo and little known in Albania.

Albania's Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has appointed four ministers who come from Kosovo, sending a "political message" about his ambitions to play a wider role in the region, experts said.

On Saturday, Rama presented 33 government vice ministers, four of whom are professionals from Kosovo and little known in Albania.

Albania's opposition centre-right Democratic Party, PD, is mulling how to revive its fortunes and win over the voters, following its disastrous defeat in the parliamentary election in June. Internal rifts have since further undermined the party's unity.

Albania's main opposition Democratic Party and its allies stand to lose out financially from their boycott of the elections due on June 18.

The country's electoral code provides that parties that register to participate in elections are entitled to state aid when it comes to their campaign expenses.

Political analysts in Tirana said they believe that internationally-mediated negotiations between the government and the opposition are needed to defuse the crisis as the country heads for parliamentary elections on June 18.

Since February 18, the opposition Democratic Party led by Lulzim Basha have been protesting in Tirana.

Analysists in Albania believe the law on the re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors or so-called vetting law will result in a lot of resignations among the around 800 justice officials.

Sokol Hazizaj, Albania's former vice-minister of justice, says that despite opposition to parts of Albania's judicial reform process, it cannot fail and must move forward.

Analysts have criticised Albania's opposition Democratic Party for seeking to block the setting of a date for the opening of EU accession negotiations.

The Democrats have insisted that the government must first implement a law that seeks to oust people with criminal pasts from politics, and must also hold free and fair elections next year.