"He challenges the rules of politics", Washington Post 'scans' Florjan Binaj's candidacy: He will free the country from parties!

2025-10-30 12:10:00, Aktualitet CNA

"He challenges the rules of politics", Washington Post

The prestigious American newspaper "Washington Post" has dedicated a special article to Florjan Binaj's candidacy in the campaign for the early local elections in Tirana.

In the article by Albanian reporter Fjori Sinoruka, "WP" scanned Binaj's profile, which is described as a comedian and activist who aims to liberate Albania from parties and manage to introduce as many professionals into politics as possible.

FULL ARTICLE IN ALBANIAN:

Can humor help Albania join the EU?

Once known as a forgotten Stalinist corner, Albania is now a leading candidate for membership in the European Union – and has a comedian running for mayor in the capital.

Something strange is happening in Albania. The government banned TikTok to protect young people from the negative influence of social media. The president appointed an artificial intelligence chatbot as a minister to fight corruption. Now one of the country's most popular comedians, famous for his sharp impersonations of the long-serving leader, is running for mayor of Tirana.

The question is: could a sense of humor and thinking outside the box help a small Balkan country join the European Union? Experts say that, seriously, it wouldn't hurt. Especially for Albania, which has long suffered from a problematic image — from the Stalinist regime to organized crime.

But Albania is doing something right, because it is now considered one of the leading candidates to join the 27-member EU.

Once, during the 40 years of paranoid dictator Enver Hoxha's rule, Albania was one of the most oppressive (and least fun) countries in the world. He built 750,000 bunkers to protect himself from an imaginary invasion — but the word "funny" would never be an appropriate description of that period. Today, Albania is a major tourist destination, and Tirana is one of the safest capitals in Europe.

However, the country still faces political corruption and powerful mafias involved in human trafficking and Colombian cocaine. But there is a broad consensus in Brussels that Albania has made great strides in building a modern economy, protecting media freedom and strengthening the rule of law.

Currently, there are nine countries in the long process of EU membership: Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Of the Western Balkans, only Croatia has joined the EU — since 2013. Today, Albania and Montenegro are seen as the most advanced candidates. The war in Ukraine has made the EU more inclined towards enlargement as a way to protect itself from Putin's aggressive Russia.

New Albanian experiments

Albania is showing that it is ready to experiment and think differently.

Earlier this year, it blocked access to TikTok for a year, following the murder of a 14-year-old boy that raised concerns about the impact of social media on children.

In September, the prime minister appointed an AI-created bot named Diella as a “digital minister” who reviews public tenders to ensure they are free of corruption and human influence. Diella has an avatar in traditional Albanian clothing — partly a publicity stunt, but the artificial intelligence system is real.

Experts warn of risks: “It creates confusion between technology and politics, brings accountability gaps and security risks,” says researcher Erjon Curraj.

But spectacle may be what sets Albania apart — because perhaps “European values” also include the ability to joke (and not arrest the comedian).

The comedian who challenges politics

In early October, renowned satirist Florjan Binaj announced his independent candidacy for mayor of Tirana, with the support of the Democratic Party.

Europe has seen screen figures enter politics before: Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine, Beppe Grillo in Italy, even Ronald Reagan in the US.

Early elections in Tirana are being held on November 9th, after the previous mayor, Erion Veliaj, was dismissed and is awaiting trial on corruption charges that he denies.

Binaj told The Washington Post that he is running to improve the quality of life in the capital with better urban planning and more public services. He sees today's Tirana as "overburdened with construction and lacking schools."

He adds that he is not only a comedian, but also a social activist, environmentalist and a graduate architect. He got into acting because he knew how to do impersonations, and ended up hosting a satirical show for 18 years.

Professor Lutfi Dervishi calls Binaj’s candidacy “a rare democratic experiment – ??a comedian challenging the model he is imitating.” He says the candidacy is indicative of a fatigue with traditional politics and a desire for authenticity, even if expressed through sarcasm. Binaj says he wants to free Albania from traditional parties, left and right, and bring more independent professionals into politics — which could also help stem the “brain drain,” as about 40% of Albanians live abroad.

"We have two paths forward: corruption and concrete, or change with honest and professional people," he said in announcing his candidacy.

Rama and the "two comedians of Tirana"

Among his many characters, Binaj does a perfect imitation of Prime Minister Edi Rama — who himself is a vibrant and unusual figure in European politics. A former basketball player and artist, Rama is known for his style in sneakers and baseball caps.

He is the leader of the Socialist Party, a former mayor of Tirana, and one of the first to paint the city’s gray buildings in bright colors after the fall of communism. Some analysts call him a “Europhile populist” — pro-America, pro-NATO, and pro-EU.

Rama often jokes at international summits, but he can also be provocative. In London last week, during a panel at Chatham House, he told Albania's critics: "Shut up."

He praised Albanian immigrants in Britain and said that, compared to the rest of Europe that is feuding, “Albania is the only adult in the room.”

Rama added that Brexit was a giant mistake: “You left Europe for more investment — now you have less.
You left for more happiness — now you are desperate.”

In 2020, Rama had spoken positively of Binaj, calling him a “charming and talented guy.” Now he is more critical, calling his candidacy “a desperate move from the swamp” (referring to the opposition). But he added with irony: “I don’t judge the actor badly for the new role he has taken on — because actors need to have a job.”

A new sign for democracy

Andi Hoxhaj, a Balkans expert at King's College London, says Binaj's candidacy should be seen as a sign of democratic openness and political progress in Albania.

"It reflects a diversity of voices and experiences entering politics — much like the developments we've seen in Italy and Ukraine," he concludes. /CNA