Parliament in Tirana erupted this week after Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced Diella, an AI avatar appointed as Minister of Public Procurement, the first such role in the world.
Dressed in traditional Albanian costume, Diella told lawmakers:
“The Constitution speaks of institutions at the people’s service. It doesn’t speak of chromosomes, of flesh or blood.”
Why it matters:
- Anti-corruption mission → Diella will oversee tenders, with Rama promising “100% corruption-free” procurement.
- EU ambitions → Albania hopes this bold move strengthens its case for EU accession by 2030.
- Global first → No other country has elevated AI to a cabinet-level position.
The backlash:
Opposition lawmakers slammed the move as “unconstitutional” and walked out of parliament, warning it’s a gimmick that won’t solve Albania’s deep-rooted corruption.
The big question:
Is this the future of transparent governance? Or just a political stunt dressed in digital code?
