This is the news from Monday 5 May.

Today is the Martyrs’ Day of the Homeland, and official tributes were held at the “Mother Albania” memorial in Tirana. The memorial ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, cabinet ministers, and representatives of other state institutions. Every May 5, Albania commemorates about 28 thousand martyrs who were killed during the Second World War, fighting against fascism.

May 9 is the deadline when Albanians in the diaspora can send their votes by mail. It is estimated that about 100 thousand emigrants have not yet sent their votes, many of which are in Greece where there have been a number of problems.

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has communicated another accusation to Ajola Xoxa, the wife of the mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj. Xoxa is also being investigated for various financial crimes. Meanwhile, Veliaj is under prison arrest on suspicion of corruption and money laundering.

In Kosovo, the Parliament has failed to elect a new speaker, again, deepening the political crisis. Albin Kurti, the leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement and acting prime minister of Kosovo, in a letter to the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, the second opposition party, invited him to make a political agreement.