The Democratic Party's Anti-Corruption Spokesperson, Genta Vangjeli, has raised accusations regarding the financing of Prime Minister Edi Rama's art exhibitions outside Albania. In a statement to the media, Vangjeli claimed that while Albanian citizens face rising costs of living, higher taxes and economic difficulties, the Prime Minister continues to present his artistic works in some of the most renowned international galleries and activities.
According to her, Rama has held solo exhibitions and participated in artistic activities in countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, the United States, Turkey and China, as well as in important events such as the Venice Biennale, Centre Pompidou-Metz and Art Basel. She claimed that the costs of using the exhibition spaces in the last two exhibitions alone could reach hundreds of thousands of euros.
According to its statement, one of the exhibitions, “Chrysalizing”, held at the Société gallery in Berlin, from May 1 to June 27, 2026, lasted 58 days and is one of the activities for which the opposition is demanding transparency on the source of funding. So far, the DP’s statement is a political accusation, while no documents or public evidence have been presented to substantiate the claims about the way the exhibitions were financed.
The statement of the spokeswoman for Anticorruption in DP, Genta Vangjeli:
Dozens of international exhibitions, hundreds of days of exposure, who finances Edi Rama's exhibitions? While Albanians face poverty, ever-higher taxes and a cost of living that increases every day, Prime Minister Edi Rama continues to exhibit his artistic works in the most prestigious galleries in the world, in personal exhibitions in Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, the United States, Turkey, China and other countries, or participation in the Venice Biennale, Centre Pompidou-Metz, Art Basel, etc.
The costs for the use of exhibition spaces alone during the last two exhibitions can reach hundreds of thousands of euros, specifically: The exhibition 'Chrysalizing', held at the Société gallery in Berlin from May 1 to June 27, 2026, lasted 58 days. Likewise, the solo exhibition at the Marian Goodman Gallery in Paris, from June 8 to July 26, 2024, lasted 49 days.
Exhibition spaces of these levels can require very high costs, not including the transportation of works, insurance, installation, promotion and other organizational expenses. Meanwhile, Edi Rama has held other exhibitions in Athens, Naples, Berlin (USA), Istanbul, Hong Kong, Munich and other places.
Under these conditions, the Democratic Party and public opinion demand transparency regarding: Has all the data been declared in detail to the responsible institutions whether these exhibitions were carried out at personal expense by Edi Rama himself, by the hosting galleries, by private sponsors or by other entities? Who and how much was paid to cover the costs of international transport of the works, insurance, assembly, promotion and organization of each of these exhibitions? The Democratic Party demands that the responsible institutions verify whether all legal obligations related to the above have been respected. Transparency is not a matter of preference, it is a constitutional and legal obligation. No one, not even the Prime Minister of Albania, can be above the law.
