Albania in 2021: a country in front of the ballot box

Albania managed to barely survive a very difficult year. As the entire world was reeling due to the Covid-19 pandemics, Albania was carrying the additional scars of two powerful earthquakes of the previous year (2019).  The virus then went over the country like a hurricane. The public healthcare system is at a testing edge with hospitals full. The economy is suffering tremendous losses and increasing unemployment. The quality of democracy has been curtailed even further with unilateral decisions, police aggressiveness is at an all-time high and limitations to basic freedoms have become a common occurrence. Media freedom has also taken…