Who is Aranita Brahaj? Candidate for "People's Advocate"

2025-12-03 09:38:00, Aktualitet CNA

Aranita Brahaj

Journalist Aranita Brahaj is one of the candidates running for the position of Ombudsman.

Brahaj is among the names that the Assembly will vote on to be elected to this position, where the winning candidate must secure at least 84 votes from deputies.

But who is the candidate for People's Advocate, Aranita Brahaj?

Aranita Brahaj has over 28 years of professional experience in the civil sector, audiovisual media, public administration, and legal and financial auditing. Born on April 11, 1977, she has a career as an activist and professional engaged in strengthening institutions, overseeing public finances, and promoting open government models.

Currently, Aranita Brahaj performs duties as Project Manager and Expert at AIS / Open Data Albania, as well as part-time Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Journalism, Faculty of History and Philology, University of Tirana (Academic Years 2021–2024).

She graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Tirana with an Integrated Second Level Diploma (2009) and holds a Master of Science in Public Law from the European University of Tirana (2011). She completed her first university studies in Albanian Language and Literature at the University of Tirana (2000).

During her career, Brahaj has distinguished herself as an instigator and promoter of Open Data and Open Government, creating important platforms for transparent documentation of public spending, contracting, and ownership structures, such as:

Open Spending Albania

Open Procurement Albania

Open Corporates Albania

She is the author of specialized methodologies for assessing risks in public procurement and implementing open contracting standards in Albania. As a public finance analyst, she has contributed to strengthening public oversight and control mechanisms.

In the role of AIS Project Manager, Aranita Brahaj has led important civil society programs, focused on: preventing and tracking corruption through open data; verifying the integrity and asset declarations of high-level officials; empowering youth in anti-corruption initiatives; using technology and civic activism for fair elections; financial auditing of electoral entities; monitoring institutional integrity through the Register of Magistrates (magjistrat.al).

Her contribution has been essential in increasing public transparency and establishing new standards of open documentation in Albania./CNA