Albania’s opposition leader Sali Berisha unveiled the Democratic Party’s (PD) cultural program on Wednesday, pledging to establish a dedicated culture ministry, double the sector’s budget, and rebuild the National Theatre in its original form.
Berisha criticized the current state of Albanian culture, calling it “worse than under any occupation the country has faced.” He promised a transformative approach to arts and heritage.
Key proposals:
New Ministry of Culture – Berisha vowed to separate culture from other portfolios and assign it an independent ministry tasked with “developing, consolidating, and protecting national heritage.”
Leadership reforms – Heads of cultural institutions would be elected by employees rather than political appointees.
Increased transparency – Oversight boards would ensure accountability in cultural funding.
Financial support – The state budget for culture and the arts would be doubled, and new sponsorship laws would encourage private sector investment.
Book sector relief – Berisha promised lower taxes on books and mandatory inclusion of Albanian authors in public libraries.
National Theatre restoration – The opposition leader committed to rebuilding the demolished theatre “as it was, where it was.”
Berisha framed culture as a fundamental aspect of national identity and pledged government support for artists, writers, and cultural figures worldwide.