This Balkan nation, nestled between Europe’s eastern borders and the Adriatic coast, has captured a few global headlines in 2024. Among the most prominent moments were the arrest of former President Ilir Meta on corruption charges, widespread political protests, and Albania’s growing role in European migration policies. We can’t talk about every major political event that happened in Albania in 2024, but we can explore the most key events that shaped Albania’s 2024 journey. Maybe this past year’s events can give us a glimpse into what 2025 has in store for this country.
Political Turmoil and Public Unrest
2024 was a year of heightened political tension in Albania. Protests and parliamentary conflicts underscored the challenges of governance and opposition in the country, namely the protests in October and local election results.
Parliamentary Protests in October
On October 3, Albania’s parliament descended into chaos when opposition MPs from the Democratic Party clashed with the ruling Socialist Party over the conviction of prominent politician Ervin Salianji. The story of Ervin Salianji is one we’ve covered in depth before, but in short, this incident ignited a series of anti-government protests, with demonstrators taking to the streets of Tirana. The opposition demanded the establishment of a temporary caretaker government, accusing the ruling Socialist Party of corruption and abuse of power.
The protests reached their peak on October 7, when tens of thousands of citizens, led by opposition leaders, gathered in Tirana’s central Skanderbeg Square. The rally saw speeches from prominent opposition figures, including Sali Berisha and Monika Kryemadhi, who accused the Socialist Party of monopolizing power and stifling dissent.
While the demonstration remained largely peaceful, tensions escalated as protestors attempted to approach the Prime Minister’s office, prompting police intervention. Tear gas and water cannons were deployed to disperse the crowd, leading to several injuries and arrests. This show of force by the authorities drew criticism from human rights organizations.
Local Election Results
In May, the Socialist Party achieved a sweeping victory in local elections, securing 53 out of 61 municipalities. This landslide win cemented the party’s dominance even further. However, this also sparked accusations of voter intimidation and irregularities, particularly in urban areas like Durrës and Shkodër.
Opposition leaders claimed that the Socialist Party had leveraged state resources and media influence to gain an unfair advantage. Despite these allegations, international observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) deemed the elections largely free but noted concerns over media bias and unequal campaign conditions.
The fragmented opposition was a key factor in the Socialist Party’s success. The Democratic Party, still recovering from internal divisions following its poor performance in the 2021 elections, failed to consolidate its base. Similarly, The Freedom Party led by Ilir Meta attempted to fill the void, but lacked the organizational strength. The opposition absolutely needs a more cohesive strategy if they want to pose a serious challenge to the Socialist Party, which has been ruling Albania since 2013.
Ilir Meta’s Arrest: A Turning Point in Albanian Politics
We can’t talk about key 20214 events in Albania without talking about the arrest of former President Ilir Meta on October 21. The Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) detained Meta upon his return from Kosovo, accusing him and his wife, Monika Kryemadhi, of corruption, money laundering, and concealing personal income and property.
A (Not) Politically Charged Case
Meta, who served as president from 2017 to 2022 and is now the leader of the opposition Freedom Party (Partia e Lirisë), denied the allegations. His arrest, which came months before the national parliamentary elections, sparked outrage among his supporters.
The charges against Meta stem from investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his time in office, with claims that he had funneled public funds into private accounts and failed to declare significant assets. SPAK officials also revealed evidence linking Meta to offshore accounts and shell companies. While the government hailed the arrest as a victory for anti-corruption efforts, opposition figures argued that the timing—so close to national elections—was deliberate, aiming to weaken the opposition’s campaign efforts.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
While most see it as a necessary step toward accountability and anti-corruption, a few argue it reflects the government’s tightening grip on power. Your average Albanian citizen knows that every high-ranking Albanian politician is incredibly corrupt, whether they personally support said politician or not, so they view holding high-ranking officials accountable as vital for combating corruption.
However, Ilir Meta is such a prominent figure in Albanian politics that, despite believing he’s certainly guilty, most don’t think this arrest will lead to significant results.
Migration Challenges: The Albania-Italy Agreement
Migration emerged as a key issue in Albania’s international relations this year. In October, Albania and Italy implemented a bilateral agreement aimed at addressing migration flows in the Mediterranean region.
Migrant Processing Centers
The agreement led to the establishment of migrant processing centers in Shengjin and Gjader. These centers were designed to process male migrants intercepted in international waters. The first group of migrants arrived in mid-October. These facilities are equipped with temporary housing, medical care, and legal processing services. They’re Albania’s most significant logistical contribution to European migration policy to date.
Controversy and Legal Challenges
However, the policy faced significant backlash. On October 18, an Italian court ordered a temporary halt to the transfer of migrants to Albania, citing concerns about their safety and compliance with European human rights standards.
Critics argued that Albania’s acceptance of these migrants placed undue strain on its resources and infrastructure. Local communities near the centers also expressed concerns about the social and economic impact of hosting such facilities. Despite these challenges, the Albanian government defended the agreement, emphasizing its alignment with European solidarity and its role in combating irregular migration.
Economic Developments and Challenges
The government’s continued investments in infrastructure projects aimed to modernize transportation and energy sectors. However, inflation and unemployment remained pressing concerns for the majority of Albanians.
Infrastructure Projects
Major projects, including the completion of new highways and energy facilities such as the Skavica hydropower plant, are underway. Also, the expansion of the Tirana-Durres highway is expected to hopefully improve the much-needed urban mobility and facilitate economic activities in the country’s most populated regions. There are concerns that corruption will leave these projects mid-construction, like it has for many other construction projects in Albania. Only time will tell if these concerns are unfounded.
Cost of Living
Despite these advancements, rising costs of living and stagnant wages posed significant challenges for the average Albanian household. Inflation rates reached their highest levels in a decade, driven by global energy price hikes and local supply chain disruptions.
Rural communities were particularly affected, with limited access to economic opportunities exacerbating existing inequalities. Let’s see if the Albanian government can improve living conditions for your average Albanian citizen before emigration leaves even more Albanian villages and apartments desolate and unoccupied.
Reflections and Outlook for 2025
As Albania closes out 2024, the events of the past year leave a mixed legacy. Looking ahead to 2025, Albania faces critical questions. How will the arrest of Ilir Meta and the associated political fallout shape the upcoming parliamentary elections? Can the country balance its international commitments, such as migration agreements, with the demands of its domestic population? And will economic reforms address the growing concerns of inequality and unemployment?
Albanians remain largely indifferent and vaguely hopeless for the future of the country, but 2025 is a new year with new potential for change. Albania stands at a crossroads. With the help of the European Union and Albania’s resilient population, the country has the opportunity to build on the lessons of 2024 and forge a path toward stability in the year ahead.
