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How Edi Rama failed with the circus in London

2025-11-19 21:43:00, Opinione Armand Shkullaku

The mockery of Braverman has not been enough for the Labor Home Secretary to change her mind about the return of 700 Albanian families, proving that circus diplomacy works to attract attention but not to solve problems.

Around 700 Albanian families, including children, who have been refused asylum in the United Kingdom, will be involved in a deportation process from this country. The decision was announced a few days ago in the British parliament by the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, who ironically belongs to the Labour party, which, exactly a month ago, the Albanian Prime Minister universally praised at a forum in London for “progress made in illegal migration”.

Today, Edi Rama expressed his deep disappointment with the decision in question, saying, "how can a Labour Party Home Secretary so weakly repeat the rhetoric of the far-right populist and single out 700 Albanian families, a statistical dot in the ocean of Britain's challenges after Brexit?"

In this sentence of the Prime Minister, it is clearly understood how a Labor minister could make that decision without completely disregarding Mr. Rama's diplomacy. The latter finds it impossible to not deal with the case, even in such a concrete case, which is related to the fate of several hundred Albanian families, but seeks to remind the British of the ocean of grievances they have sunk into after Brexit.

This is exactly what the Albanian prime minister did when a month ago, instead of engaging in the problems of his compatriots, he began to mock Great Britain. “You left Europe because you wanted fewer ships and you have more ships. You left Europe because you wanted more investments. You have less investments. You left Europe because you wanted more happiness. Now you are depressed.” Convinced that with this poetic rhetoric he would attract the attention of the British media and become the “star” of the forum, Edi Rama went further and mocked former Conservative minister Suella Braverman and, with an impersonation of an amateur actor, declared that those who criticize Albanians should shut their mouths, shut the fuck up.

Of course, such a way of speaking received media attention and Edi Rama was talked about in the island media for almost two days. But that's all. And apparently the words of this global leader have not left any mark even on the Labor allies, whose minister decided to expel 700 Albanian families. The mockery of Braverman has not been enough for the Labor Home Secretary to change her mind, despite the disappointment it has caused Edi Rama, thus proving that circus diplomacy works to attract attention but not to solve problems.

Edi Rama's clownish egocentrism, from kneeling, atypical clothing, stale humor or lectures of "a small one" to the powerful of the planet, have often placed him under the spotlight of the world's important media. Like any clown who gets attention the moment he appears. But that's all. Because the world does not know examples when circus diplomacy can do the real work, the one that requires seriousness, will and consistency, which is often not rewarded with political marketing for the protagonists, but nevertheless gives results for the country.

Edi Rama has many examples that prove this, but the latter with Great Britain is the most illustrative of the circus and banal game in which the Albanian prime minister revolves. The contrast that the prime minister of a country like Albania, now increasingly associated with drug trafficking, tells the British what trouble he has gotten himself into with Brexit, undoubtedly awakens a media frenzy. When the same shows the "courage" to attack or mock important politicians like Braverman or Farage (of course in the opposition) this also tears up the island journalists. But unfortunately, it cannot save the Albanian families and children, for whom the ruling Labour Party has decided to return them to the country from which they fled and where Edi Rama has been governing for a decade and a half.

While the Albanian prime minister was lecturing in London a month ago, a British Home Office official told the Daily Express: “Edi Rama has no idea what he is talking about. If he were really doing his job, Albanians would not be fleeing to the UK in droves. He should spend less time speaking in public and more time taking back the record number of Albanian criminals filling our prisons.”

But can Edi Rama do his job? Circus diplomacy is the clearest evidence that answers this question. A leader who has failed to advance his country, which he has led for 15 years, has media propaganda as his only cover for incompetence and abuse. He gives land for refugee camps, islands for resorts, "smash" the Russian ambassador, guarantees support to Zelensky and shows the way to the EU, but the number of Albanians within the country he leads is gradually dwindling. According to international reports, Albania remains the poorest country in Europe, the most corrupt and almost under the control of powerful criminal groups.

These are the records of the global leader, who, apart from a few rosy articles in the media and Marta Kos's cake, has not brought any advancement to the country on the international stage. Because circus diplomacy lasts until the next show, but leaves no significant mark. Albania liberalized visas with the EU, received candidate country status, joined NATO, without having leaders in Adidas sneakers or actors in equestrian scenes who kneel before foreign leaders.

At the end of each show, after the enthusiasm and hands reddened by the clashes, the spectators return to reality and their homes to think about what they have to eat. Even those 700 Albanian families in Britain may have been amused by our Prime Minister's mockery of Suella Braverman, but now they have to face the decision of the current minister who intends to send them back to where they came from. And Edi Rama's deep disappointment is unlikely to help them.