Democratic Party MP Belind Këlliçi has made public a document that, according to him, proves the existence of an idea to extend Prime Minister Edi Rama’s rule into permanent forms of government, including the possibility of him being declared “king.”
According to Këlliçi, the document in question is found in the voluminous book “Albanian Files,” which includes a letter by Dutch architect Reinier de Graaf. The Democratic MP says the text proposes a model of governance that would ensure continuity of power by abolishing elections or establishing a structure with an unlimited mandate.
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He claims that this “project” is also being reflected in Albania’s political reality, while accusing the government of damaging the electoral process and weakening democratic institutions. Këlliçi describes the political situation as an “electoral farce” and raises the alarm over what he says are authoritarian tendencies in the country.
In his reaction, the PD lawmaker portrays Prime Minister Rama as a figure who, according to him, seeks to consolidate long-term and uncontested power, linking this to ideas or foreign projects published in academic publications.
Këlliçi’s reaction
Këlliçi says that Edi Rama’s project to secure eternal power has been uncovered and that he aims to be declared King.
According to him, the reason is now becoming clear as to why Rama was upset when he was called the Godfather of Albania, because, as the Democratic MP puts it, he apparently has plans to become King or President for life.
He adds that the way to feed these ambitions has been found as usual, by claiming that the push comes from others and not directly from Rama himself. Këlliçi mentions the book “Albanian Files,” where, according to him, the letter addressed to the prime minister by the Dutch architect can be found.
Referring to his statement, Reinier de Graaf calls for Rama’s regime to have continuity, by eliminating elections or turning him into King or President for Life.
Këlliçi claims that so far Rama has fulfilled the Dutch architect’s wish by undoing elections and killing the electoral process, since, according to him, those of May 2025 were a farce and are recognized by no one.
He further says that, in his view, there is also a project underway to have himself declared King.
The Democratic MP stresses that this letter is not literature, but, according to him, part of Edi Rama’s exchanges with client architects, with whom he claims he is looting Albania from South to North.
At the conclusion of his reaction, Këlliçi says that Rama, whom he calls the Godfather who says “Fuck You” to his own people, wants to become King. After this revelation, he says Albanians have no choice but to overthrow him before he becomes even more dangerous. He adds that a new dictatorship has no chance of being established in this country, that Edi Rama’s days are numbered, and that he will soon fall along with his dreams of eternal power.
What does the letter contain?
An open letter by Dutch architect Reinier de Graaf, addressed to Prime Minister Edi Rama, has sparked reactions in Albania. The document is dated March 3, 2025 and was published in the book “Albanian Files,” “Dosjet shqiptare.”
The letter begins with praise for developments in Albania and for the government’s role in promoting urban projects. The author then expresses concern over architecture’s dependence on political decision-making and suggests that Albania should no longer hold elections, while Rama should continue to govern.
The letter
An open letter to Edi Rama
Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania
Rotterdam, March 3, 2025
Your Excellency / dear Edi,
Please forgive me for addressing you in this form. You may not remember me; we have met only once, and I am merely one of many foreign architects currently working in your country. I am writing to express my gratitude for the opportunity to work in Albania and also my broader admiration for everything you have achieved since becoming Prime Minister a little over a decade ago.
Under your rule, Albania has attained almost model status. Numerous religious and ethnic groups live together in peace; there is an effective separation of church (churches) and state; a young hard-working population keeps an economy afloat; women’s participation in labor is high and continuously increasing; Albania is actively pursuing EU membership and, not to forget, has excellent taste in architecture.
In an undisciplined world, Albania is beginning to feel like the hopeful exception: pro-international collaboration, pro-progressive values and, perhaps most importantly, pro-reason, a beacon of enlightenment against all odds.
The purpose of my writing, however, goes beyond praise. I am writing because I am worried. At this moment, your party is seeking a fourth consecutive term. I can only hope that they succeed. It is hard to imagine a new regime caring for architects as much as the current one does.
Our profession historically depends on political patronage and some gloomy thoughts have crossed my mind lately. What will happen if the socialists do not win the elections? Will this mecca of contemporary architecture suddenly come to an end? Will an apparently inexhaustible well of work suddenly dry up? Might the Army of Architects have to lay down its arms as quickly as it was mobilized?
I do not say this lightly, but for us architects, it would be better if the upcoming elections were simply canceled. I would even go one step further.
Given Albania’s enduring status as an enlightened patron of architecture, our profession would greatly benefit if the country were never to hold another election again, and if you, after your fifth consecutive term as prime minister, were to continue as president for life—perhaps even King.
Major historical events are unfolding as we speak. Autocracy is rapidly gaining ground as the ultimate form of governance of the twenty-first century. Hopes for a productive alternative are being crushed every day. We seem to be witnessing the end of the “End of History.” In this context, my plea is as simple as it is straightforward: In a world of autocracies, can we have a benevolent autocrat with taste?
I know that what I am asking of you is no small sacrifice, but it is of great importance. I hope you will take it into consideration.
