Press freedom organization Reporters without Borders (RSF) have condemned Prime Minister Edi Rama’s initiative for anti-libel legislation, which includes the mandatory registration of online news outlets, many of which are critical of his regime.
In a tweet, RSF stated:
Supposedly meant to rein in online defamation, this initiative in
#Albania by PM@ediramaal threatens press freedom and independent websites that often provide investigative coverage of corruption and Albanian government collusion with organized crime.#PressFreedom
Ever since coming to power, Prime Minister Rama has attacked the media, and has at various points (unsuccessfully) tried to limit press freedom in Albania.
Prime Minister Rama has received little pushback from the European Commission, which appears to regard protection of press freedom in Albania as a relatively low priority.
Albania consistently ranks low in terms of press freedom compared to the rest of Europe.
