From the electric train that remained a construction site, to the Vlora airport without flights, from the compensation of residents for the fires to the Shpirag oil that was extinguished along with the promises of 24-hour water, two firefighting aircraft, new schools and legalizations.
2025 was an election year, and like every election year in Albania, the promises were numerous and repeated. At the end of the year, the facts speak of unfinished construction sites, failed road projects, postponed deadlines and disappointed citizens, writes Faktoje.al.
The electric train that didn’t start
In the government’s 3D presentations, Tirana is connected to Durrës and Rinas by a modern electric train. On the ground, for more than four years, there has been only one construction site that is not being completed. With several missed deadlines, the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas railway is still far from being completed. The new deadline for the electric train to operate is the end of 2026.
Vlora Airport without flights
In the spring, the familiar scenario of the “electoral flight” returned on the eve of the elections with the landing of the first test aircraft on the runway of the Vlora international airport. The government promised that the Vlora airport would start flights this year. However, the facts show that in reality the only test flight remained the one of May 8.
Shpirag’s ‘Arab’ oil
“Premium oil like Saudi Arabia” is how the government presented the oil discovery in Shpirag. But the tests of the company SHELL proved disappointing. The Dutch giant is on the verge of leaving Albania. The Sovereign Fund remained a beautiful dream along with the promise of a new economic era from oil in Shpirag.
24 hours drinking water
Since 2013, this has been the refrain of every electoral campaign, but the country still suffers from the lack of 24-hour water supply. The new deadline for the same promise has been postponed to 2030. This year, during the election campaign, Prime Minister Edi Rama promised that by 2030, 100% of cities and 80% of villages will be covered with 24-hour water.
Albania without a firefighting aircraft
The promise made by Prime Minister Edi Rama during the electoral campaign that Albania would have two firefighting aircraft ready for the summer season turned out to be unfulfilled. This summer the country went through a dramatic situation due to fires that burned over 60 thousand hectares of forests and pastures. But the only firefighting aircraft were those coming from EU countries through the Civil Protection Mechanism.
Compensation for Gramshi and Delvina
The government promised compensation and reconstruction of housing for all residents of areas affected by fires this summer. At the end of the year, they are still waiting for the fulfillment of this commitment. The National Civil Protection Agency (AKMC) confirmed to “Faktoje.al” that the inventory of burned houses and lost livestock has not yet been completed.
Electoral account of 450 new schools
At the start of the campaign, Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that his government had built 450 new schools in ten years. The facts show that only 43 educational institutions have been rebuilt or expanded. Rama’s propaganda figure includes every intervention, from repairing toilets to painting walls.
The odyssey of post-earthquake reconstruction
6 years after the tragic earthquake of November 26, 2019, the reconstruction process is close to financial closure, but not completed on the ground. The government has spent 131 billion lek and reports that 90% of the projects have been built. Delays continue to keep hundreds of families without a roof over their heads in suspense. Deadlines are postponed year after year and every November 26 brings another excuse.
‘Blue Flag’ for Albanian beaches
The Ministry of Environment promised that Albania would achieve the European “Blue Flag” standard for bathing water quality. But EU reports rank us last in Europe for coastal water quality. The main cause? Untreated sewage flowing into the sea, a lack of treatment plants and poor environmental management.
Endless legalizations
This is the oldest recycled promise. Every election brings a new wave of promised legalizations. But the process is never-ending. Files are added, deadlines are extended, and citizens remain hostage to a promise that is not being fulfilled. Since the start of the legalization process in 2006 and until now, legalizations have been used as an important tool for political support, especially in election campaigns.
cONcluSiON
In this article, we only summarized 10 lies, but during 2025, Faktoje verified a total of 87 promises made by politicians and senior officials. Of these, 52 promises were unfulfilled, only 6 were fully kept, while 29 were partially fulfilled. The verifications highlight the gap between promises and reality, especially in an election year like the one we are leaving behind.