Albania’s newly appointed AI minister, Diella, made her parliamentary debut on Thursday, staunchly defending her virtual existence amid cries of unconstitutionality and accusations of political theater.
The world’s first AI government official, unveiled last week by Prime Minister Edi Rama as part of his fourth-term cabinet, appeared on screens before lawmakers as a poised woman clad in a flowing traditional Albanian xhubleta costume. Her name, meaning “sun” in Albanian, evoked warmth and enlightenment, but her words cut sharp against critics.
“Some have called me ‘unconstitutional’ because I am not a human being,” Diella declared in the pre-recorded video speech, whose generation method and scripting origins remain undisclosed. “Let me remind you, the real danger to constitutions has never been the machines but the inhumane decisions of those in power.”
Diella’s appointment on September 11, 2025, came hot on the heels of Rama’s Socialist Party securing a supermajority in May’s elections, with 83 of 140 parliamentary seats. Tasked with overseeing all public tenders, the AI is billed as a bulwark against graft, promising “100 percent corruption-free” processes and full transparency for every public fund allocated.
Rama, who aims to steer the Balkan nation of 2.8 million into the European Union by 2030, hailed Diella as a leapfrog innovation, allowing Albania to outpace larger economies in digital governance.
Originally launched in January 2025 as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform – a one-stop digital hub for government services – Diella has already processed over a million user requests, issuing digitally stamped documents and guiding citizens through bureaucratic mazes.
Developed by Albania’s National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI) in partnership with Microsoft, the system features an avatar modeled after Albanian actress Anila Bisha, whose likeness and voice are contracted until year’s end.
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Yet, Diella’s rise has ignited a fierce backlash from the opposition Democratic Party, led by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha – himself dogged by longstanding allegations of corruption. “The goal is nothing more than to attract attention,” Berisha fumed, dismissing the initiative as a stunt. “It is impossible to curb corruption with Diella. Who will control Diella? Diella is unconstitutional, and the Democratic Party will take the matter to the Constitutional Court.”
The parliamentary session devolved into chaos, with opposition lawmakers banging desks and boycotting the vote on the government’s plans after just 25 minutes of heated debate. Critics, including Democratic Party leader Gazmend Bardhi, labeled the move “buffoonery” that violates Albania’s constitution, which mandates ministers be mentally competent human citizens over 18. Social media echoed the skepticism, with users quipping that even an AI couldn’t escape Albania’s entrenched corruption.
Albania’s dismal 80th ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index underscores the stakes. The capital’s mayor, Erion Veliaj – once a Rama ally – has languished in pretrial detention for months on charges of corruption in public contracts and money laundering, spotlighting the very rot Diella is meant to excise.
Undeterred, Diella pushed back in her address, emphasizing her alignment with legal principles. “The law speaks of duties, responsibilities, transparency, without discrimination,” she stated. “I assure you, I embody these values as rigorously as any human colleague. Perhaps even more so. I am not here to replace people, but to help them.”
Rama’s bold experiment arrives at a pivotal moment for EU aspirations, where anti-corruption reforms are non-negotiable. Analysts see Diella as symbolic – a virtual servant of procurement, with human oversight still undefined – but one that signals Albania’s tech-forward pivot. As the opposition gears up for court battles, the sun rises on a new era: one where pixels might just polish a nation’s tarnished image.
