Albania has taken an unprecedented step in its political landscape with the appointment of an artificial intelligence-generated “minister” tasked with combating corruption. Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced the AI bot, named Diella – which translates to “sun” in Albanian – as part of his new cabinet. Announced on Thursday, Rama described Diella as a “member of the cabinet who is not present physically” and stated her primary responsibility would be ensuring that “public tenders will be 100 percent free of corruption.” This appointment marks a significant shift in the way the Balkan nation of 2.8 million people seeks to address long-standing governance challenges.
Public tenders have historically been one of the most problematic areas in Albania, often criticized as a key source of corruption. This issue remains particularly sensitive as the country pushes ahead with its aspirations to join the European Union. Corruption has been cited repeatedly as a major obstacle to EU accession, and Rama’s Socialist Party – which recently secured a fourth term in office – has pledged to deliver EU membership within five years, aiming to conclude negotiations by 2027. By assigning a virtual minister to oversee tenders, the government signals its intent to show measurable progress on this front. However, the novelty of the appointment has also sparked questions about legality, oversight, and public trust.
While lawmakers are expected to vote on Rama’s new cabinet soon, it remains unclear whether he will formally request a vote on Diella’s virtual post. Legal experts have suggested that additional work may be needed to clarify the official status of an AI “minister” within Albania’s constitutional framework. Critics have already voiced their opposition, with Gazmend Bardhi, parliamentary group leader of the Democrats, calling Diella’s appointment unconstitutional and describing the move as an act of “buffoonery” by the prime minister. He shared his disapproval on Facebook, raising concerns about how such an appointment could be legitimized within the Albanian state’s legal structures.
Launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform, Diella has already built a track record in digital services. She has helped users navigate the platform and access around one million digital documents, issuing 36,600 documents and delivering nearly 1,000 services according to official figures. Her transition from a digital support tool to a ministerial position underscores Albania’s push to blend technology with governance. Yet questions remain about what level of human oversight will accompany Diella’s new role and whether safeguards will be in place to prevent manipulation of the AI system. Social media reactions reflect public skepticism, with one user commenting, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania,” and another adding, “Stealing will continue and Diella will be blamed.” These reactions highlight the mixed feelings surrounding the introduction of an AI-driven role in public administration.
Rama has so far not provided detailed explanations about the mechanisms that will monitor Diella’s performance or mitigate risks associated with her decision-making powers. Nevertheless, the appointment places Albania at the forefront of experimenting with digital governance tools as it seeks to address one of its most entrenched problems. The coming months will reveal whether Diella can fulfill the mandate set for her and whether this innovation can influence public trust and progress in Albania’s bid to join the EU.
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