Albanian parliament endorses Rama for 4th term as PM

TIRANA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Albania's parliament on Thursday confirmed Edi Rama for a fourth consecutive term as prime minister, with Rama pledging to accelerate the country's path toward European Union (EU) membership by 2030.

Rama, the sole candidate for the post, secured 82 votes in the 140-seat legislature. His Socialist Party won a majority in parliamentary elections held in May.

"Albania 2030 in the EU is the centerpiece of this mandate," Rama told lawmakers, stressing that integration into the bloc would guide government reforms in the coming years.

In a move aimed at addressing transparency in public procurement, Rama last week proposed the use of an artificial intelligence tool, named Diella, to manage and award tenders. During a video address, the AI program said it would assist rather than replace public officials.

The appointment has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who questioned its constitutionality and warned it could create new risks. Enditem