This is the news from Friday, December 6.

Officers of the National Bureau of Investigation have searched the apartment of the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj. In a press release, the country’s special prosecution against crime and corruption, said that “several investigative actions have been taken within the framework of a criminal proceeding. Since the investigation is still in the preliminary phase, we cannot release any further data or information at this time.”

Tirana may have one more MP and Korça one less in the 11 May general elections. According to the document of the country’s Central Election Commission, which is expected to be approved tomorrow, the capital’s voters will choose 37 deputies out of the 140 in Albanian parliament.

According to an index published by the Global Happines Index, Albanian pensioners are among some of the most unhappy in the world. Albania ranked 103 out of 143 countries surveyed. The ranking comes following weeks of pensioner protests as they demand higher pensions, stating a government proposed end of year bonus is not enough.

The Italian government has no intention of giving up on the refugee camps set up in Albania. The Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi stated that the executive is currently awaiting another court decision and that the camps will continue to operate. The caps, agreed on between Italy and Albania in November 2023 have been plagued with legal woes that have seen two groups of migrants returned to Italy after remaining in Albania for just several days. .