- Albania introduces Diella, an AI program, as symbolic cabinet “minister for public procurement.”
- PM Edi Rama unveiled Diella after winning his fourth term in May.
- Constitution prevents AI from officially holding office, but move is symbolic.
- Diella previously worked as a virtual assistant, helping over 1M document applications.
- Goal: eliminate corruption in public tenders, make procurement faster and more transparent.
- Opposition calls the appointment “ridiculous” and “unconstitutional.”
- Experts say AI could improve accountability in procurement if properly designed.
- Move linked to Albania’s push for EU accession by 2027, with anti-corruption as a key condition.
- Rama admits publicity angle but says it pressures ministers to modernize.
Albania has broken new ground by appointing an artificial intelligence program named Diella as part of its new cabinet. Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced the AI system on Thursday, just months after winning a fourth term, presenting her as “minister for public procurement” with the mission to eliminate corruption from government tenders.
Diella, whose name translates as “sun” in Albanian, is not officially recognized as a minister since the constitution requires cabinet members to be human citizens over 18. Still, Rama insists the appointment carries weight, symbolizing his government’s plan to “leapfrog” traditional governance methods with technology.
This isn’t Diella’s first role in public service. She previously operated as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, helping more than one million citizens apply for official documents. Now, she is expected to expand her role into procurement, overseeing bids to ensure transparency, speed, and accountability.
Critics, particularly the opposition Democratic Party, have called the move “unconstitutional” and “ridiculous,” dismissing it as political theater. Others, however, see potential benefits. Experts say properly designed AI can help minimize corruption by analyzing whether bidders meet conditions and criteria without bias or manipulation.
The timing is also strategic, as Albania races to meet EU requirements for accession by 2027, with anti-corruption reforms high on the agenda. Supporters argue that Diella could strengthen transparency at a crucial moment for the country’s European ambitions.
Rama himself admits there’s an element of spectacle in the announcement but stresses the symbolic pressure it puts on human ministers. According to him, Diella sets a new benchmark that could push officials to modernize—or risk being replaced by technology.
