Tirana, Albania (AP) — Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Friday the introduction of a groundbreaking addition to his new cabinet: an artificial intelligence "minister." This virtual minister, named Diella, will oversee the management of public funding projects and combat corruption within public tenders. Prime Minister Rama highlighted that Diella, named after the Albanian word for “Sun,” is a virtual creation powered by artificial intelligence. Despite not being a physical presence, Diella plays a crucial role in ensuring that public tenders remain completely free of corruption. Rama believes that this innovation will accelerate governmental processes and enhance transparency, as he noted on his Facebook page on Friday. Earlier this year, Diella was launched on the e-Albania public service platform as a virtual assistant, helping users navigate the site while donning traditional Albanian attire. In the recent parliamentary elections held on May 11, Rama's Socialist Party achieved a substantial victory by securing 83 out of 140 Assembly seats, ensuring its governance with a comfortable majority. Although this allows the Socialists to pass most legislation independently, a two-thirds majority of 93 seats is required to amend the Constitution. The Socialist Party has set an ambitious goal to secure EU membership for Albania within five years, with negotiations anticipated to conclude by 2027. This aim, however, has been met with skepticism by the opposition Democratic Party, which argues that Albania is not yet adequately prepared for EU accession. Albania, part of the Western Balkans, initiated full negotiations for EU membership a year ago, amid ongoing challenges of organized crime and corruption that have persisted since the end of the communist regime in 1990. In the recent elections, a conservative coalition led by former Prime Minister and President Sali Berisha's Democratic Party secured 50 seats. Although the party has disputed the election results, alleging irregularities, its members attended the first parliamentary session. Four smaller parties took the remaining seats. Legal experts suggest that further work may be required to define the official status of the virtual minister, Diella. As new lawmakers took their oaths on Friday, expectations were set for the election of a new speaker, deputies, and the formal presentation of Rama's new cabinet later in the day.
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