THE “SULMI NACIONAL” PARTY
ALBANIA NEEDS RADICAL CHANGE: STATE REORGANIZATION, JUSTICE, AND TRUE DEMOCRACY
The Prime Minister Must Take Action to Reorganize RTSH, Ensure the Lawful Replacement of Its Current Leadership, and Open New Procedures for the Selection of New Leaders
By Flamur Buçpapaj
The “Sulmi Nacional” Party calls on the Prime Minister of Albania to demand institutional accountability for the situation at the Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH), support a review of its current leadership, and initiate the legal procedures necessary for the removal of the current director, provided that the relevant legal grounds are met. We call for the way to be opened for the selection of new leadership through a transparent process, open competition, professional criteria, and democratic safeguards. RTSH is not the property of an individual director, a political party, or any particular group. It is a public institution and must serve all Albanians.
For this reason, we demand a comprehensive review of the functioning of the RTSH Steering Council, the procedures for selecting its leaders, financial management, contracts, and institutional decision-making. Any suspicion of mismanagement or wrongdoing must be examined by the competent authorities and, where established, must lead to legal accountability. The Prime Minister must call on the responsible institutions to exercise their powers and ensure that an institution of national importance does not operate beyond public scrutiny and accountability.
We call for a profound reorganization of RTSH, with professional leadership, editorial independence, financial transparency, and a clear development strategy. Albanian Radio and Television should produce more Albanian films, historical documentaries, cultural programs, youth programming, Albanian music, and content reflecting the lives of citizens throughout the country. The selection of new leaders must take place in accordance with the law, through open procedures and with safeguards preventing the public broadcaster from becoming an instrument of any political power.
However, Albania’s problems do not end with RTSH. They are connected to the way the entire Albanian state has been structured and governed over the 36 years of political pluralism. Albania has experienced several changes of government, yet a large proportion of its citizens continue to face low wages, limited prospects, economic hardship, corruption, and mass emigration. Citizens have every right to ask: Why has Albania still not achieved the standard of living its people deserve? Why are young people leaving while Albanian families struggle to meet the cost of living? Why is it often difficult for an honest business to compete without political connections?
The “Sulmi Nacional” Party believes that the country needs profound changes in governance, in the relationship between politics and the economy, and in institutional accountability. Changing the party in power is not enough if the same practices of favoritism, lack of transparency, and concentration of decision-making in the hands of a limited number of individuals continue. Albania needs institutions that serve the interests of its citizens, not structures that protect the interests of particular groups.
One of the most significant problems is the concentration of economic power and the emergence of monopolies or dominant market positions that may restrict competition. We call for investigations into every suspected case of political favoritism, conflict of interest, and violation of market rules. Large companies, including those operating in the fuel and services sectors, must be subject to the same rules as every other economic operator. A free economy cannot exist when small and medium-sized businesses face obstacles while others are suspected of benefiting from political connections.
We propose strengthening competition authorities, ensuring full transparency regarding the beneficial owners of companies, and scrutinizing relationships between public officials and economic operators. Every violation must be established through evidence and dealt with in accordance with the law, without political protection or exceptions.
The “Sulmi Nacional” Party also calls for the establishment or strengthening of a specialized mechanism to investigate the financial origins of assets that cannot be justified, where well-founded suspicions of corruption, organized crime, or abuse of office exist. This mechanism must operate independently and under the rule of law. Assets obtained illegally must be seized and confiscated in accordance with legal procedures, while respecting the right to a defense and the presumption of innocence. No minister, former minister, member of parliament, public official, institutional leader, or businessperson should be above the law.
Another essential reform concerns public procurement. Tenders issued by ministries and municipalities should be monitored through an integrated electronic system that allows citizens and oversight institutions to access procurement criteria, bids, winning companies, contracts, payments, and project implementation records. Conflicts of interest, inflated prices, delays, and the quality of public investments must be scrutinized. Suspected manipulation must be referred to the competent authorities. Public money must be spent on roads, schools, hospitals, agriculture, and economic development—not on unlawful private gain.
Albania also needs constitutional reform to guarantee a balance between the executive branch, Parliament, and independent institutions. Excessive concentration of power weakens democratic oversight and increases the risk of unilateral decision-making. We propose a reasoned review of the system of governance and previous constitutional amendments, including the 2008 political agreement. Any changes must comply with the Constitution and be pursued through public consultation and democratic procedures.
Justice must be equal for everyone. Citizens cannot be forced to wait years for their cases to be resolved while suspicions of corruption and political interference undermine public trust in institutions. We call for an assessment of the results of judicial reform, lawful scrutiny of integrity and assets, and investigations into every case where evidence of misconduct exists. Vetting and accountability mechanisms must operate according to equal standards while safeguarding judicial independence from political interference.
The protection of property and lawful enterprise is another principle that must guide the state. Every dispute concerning ownership, contracts, and the administration of public property must be examined on the basis of documents and the law. Issues relating to contracts for premises at the former Kinostudio film studios and the activities of businesses operating there must also be addressed by the competent institutions. If it is established that a contract was unlawfully terminated or that a business was discriminated against, there must be a genuine opportunity to appeal and seek compensation. Public institutions must never be used to favor one business and disadvantage another for political reasons.
Particular attention must be paid to protecting Valbona and other protected areas. We call for the verification of permits, land agreements, and tourism developments, as well as investigations into suspected violations of environmental legislation. Where illegal construction or damage to protected areas is established, the measures prescribed by law must be enforced. Oversight must apply equally to all economic operators and must never be used as a tool of political pressure.
The Albanian economy must be built on production, agriculture, manufacturing, and job creation. Farmers need irrigation systems, warehouses, cold-storage facilities, collection centers, and fair opportunities to sell their produce. The state must establish transparent mechanisms to support domestic production in accordance with competition rules and European standards. Investment in renewable energy, technology, and industry must be encouraged, creating the conditions for higher wages and an improved standard of living.
Albania’s depopulation is a national problem that cannot be solved through declarations alone. The country needs sustainable jobs, housing opportunities for young families, better healthcare services, and an education system that equips young people with skills demanded by the labor market. Rural and mountainous areas must have genuine opportunities for development, while Albanian emigrants must have economic and professional reasons to return home. Albania must become a country where its citizens can live with dignity and build their future.
In the field of national security, we call for the modernization of the Armed Forces, improved personnel training, the development of cyber defense, and stronger naval capabilities. Albania must fulfill its obligations within NATO and ensure that defense funds are used responsibly through auditing and institutional oversight.
The “Sulmi Nacional” Party is not simply calling for a change of individuals at the top of public institutions. It is calling for a transformation in the way the Albanian state operates. We must build institutions that are accountable, an economy in which businesses compete fairly, a justice system that operates without political interference, and a public administration that serves citizens. Every official must be held accountable for their actions, and every reform must be grounded in evidence, transparency, and the public interest.
Albania cannot remain hostage to a political class that has failed to provide its citizens with sufficient economic security and prospects for the future. The country needs a new national project that combines economic development with justice, national sovereignty with European cooperation, and public accountability with democracy. Genuine change begins when institutions stop serving individuals and start serving citizens and the state.
The “Sulmi Nacional” Party calls on citizens, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, farmers, workers, and young people to take part in the debate about Albania’s future. We seek a state where the law applies equally to everyone, public assets are protected, corruption is investigated, and success comes through hard work, ability, and fair competition. Albania is not the property of political parties, monopolies, or powerful individuals. Albania belongs to its citizens.
Flamur Buçpapaj
Author and Publicist
