Albania has selected a virtual Minister powered by artificial intelligence, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama announced that his new cabinet will include an artificial intelligence “Minister” that will be in charge of running public funding projects and fighting corruption in public tenders.
Rama said that Diella, whose name means “Sun” in Albanian, will be responsible for all public procurement. He noted that Diella is a “member of the Cabinet who is not present physically but has been created virtually from artificial intelligence.”
She will manage and award all public tenders where the government hires private companies for different projects.
Rama stated that decisions on tenders would be taken “out of the ministries” and placed in the hands of Diella, who is “the servant of public procurement.” He said that the process will be “step-by-step.”
Rama stressed that Diella would help ensure that “public tenders will be 100% free of corruption.” Diella will assess tenders and have the authority to “hire talents here from all over the world,” while breaking down “the fear of prejudice and rigidity of the administration.”
Diella has already been introduced to Albanian citizens as she powers the country’s e-Albania platform, which allows citizens to access almost all government services digitally. She has an avatar, appearing as a young woman dressed in traditional Albanian clothing.
Diella was launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform, where she helps users navigate the site.
Diella interacts with users through voice commands and issues documents with electronic stamps, thus reducing bureaucratic delays.
The significant move was praised by Albanian media as it represents a major transformation in the way the government exercises administrative power while introducing technology.
Nonetheless, legal experts say that more work may be needed to establish Diella’s official status.
The move comes as Albania has long struggled with corruption, especially in public administration and procurement. The European Union has repeatedly flagged these issues in its annual rule of law reports.
Corruption has remained a top issue in the Western Balkan country since the fall of the communist regime in 1990. Experts have declared that the corruption has been extended to the upper reaches of government.
Experts say that public tenders play a crucial role in Albania and have been a source of corruption scandals.
These issues are particularly tied to the country’s role as a hub for international gangs seeking to launder money from drug and weapons trafficking.
Albania’s Parliament Swears In New Lawmakers
Meanwhile, Parliament began the process to swear in new lawmakers today. Later in the day, lawmakers are expected to elect a new Speaker and deputies and formally present Rama’s new cabinet.
Rama’s Socialist Party secured a fourth consecutive term after winning 83 of the 140 Assembly seats in the May 11 parliamentary elections. The party can govern alone and pass most legislation, but it needs a two-thirds majority, or 93 seats, to change the Constitution.
The Socialists have said it can deliver EU membership for Albania in five years, with negotiations concluding by 2027. The pledge has been met with skepticism by the Democrats, who contend Albania is far from prepared.
The conservative Democratic Party-led coalition, headed by former prime minister and President Sali Berisha, won 50 seats.
The party has not accepted the official election results, claiming irregularities, but its members participated in the new parliament’s inaugural session. The remaining seats went to four smaller parties.
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