Albania Breaks Global Ground: Appoints AI System Diella as Government Minister Dedicated to Anti-Corruption and Overseeing Public Tenders

Summary

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on September 11, 2025, the appointment of an artificial intelligence system named "Diella" (Albanian for "Sun") as the Minister of Government Public Procurement. This marks the world's first instance of an AI holding a government ministerial position. This innovative initiative aims to completely eradicate corruption in public tenders through technological means.

Historic Appointment: AI Officially Enters Government Cabinet

When announcing the new cabinet list, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated, "Diella is the first cabinet member who does not exist in physical form, but is virtually created by artificial intelligence." This signifies a major breakthrough in global government governance models, making Albania the first country in the world to directly integrate AI into its executive branch.

Diella has been granted decision-making power over all public tenders, promising "100% corruption-free public tenders, with all public funds submitted to the tendering process being fully transparent." This function covers the review and evaluation of various project contracts signed between the government and private enterprises.

Technical Background and Operating Model of the AI Minister

Diella was initially launched in January 2025 as an AI virtual assistant on Albania's e-governance platform, e-Albania, to help users with government services. The system is presented as a female figure dressed in traditional Albanian national costume and assists users in obtaining government documents and services via voice commands.

According to official data, Diella has assisted in issuing 36,600 digital documents and provides nearly 1,000 services through the platform. Currently, approximately 95% of public services in Albania are available online, laying a solid digital foundation for the AI minister's operation.

Anti-Corruption Goals and EU Accession Vision

In this Balkan nation of 2.8 million people, public tenders have long been a breeding ground for corruption, and anti-corruption is a key criterion for Albania's accession to the European Union. Rama's Socialist Party, having just won a fourth term, has pledged to achieve Albania's EU membership goal within five years, with negotiations set to conclude in 2027.

According to Reuters and other media reports, Diella operates by processing tender applications in real-time, cross-referencing data with legal standards and historical patterns to flag irregularities. While human oversight mechanisms are retained, specific details are limited – Rama emphasized that while Diella provides recommendations, final approval still requires ministerial review to ensure ethical safeguards.

Implementation Plan and Phased Approach

Implementation details indicate a phased approach, starting with lower-value tenders and then expanding to major infrastructure projects. Albanian officials emphasize that Diella's decisions will be publicly transparent to build public trust.

Rama stated that a dedicated department would be established to support Diella and promote the application of AI across various government departments. This is not merely an anti-corruption tool but also an important component of the government's digital transformation.

Legal Controversy and Political Reaction

Legal experts believe more work may be needed to establish Diella's formal status. Gazmend Bardhi, head of the opposition Democratic Party's parliamentary group, stated that he considers Diella's ministerial status unconstitutional, posting on Facebook that "the Prime Minister's antics cannot become legal acts of the Albanian state."

When asked by reporters on Friday whether it was unconstitutional, Albanian President Bajram Begaj did not explicitly describe Diella's role as a ministerial position. The legislature will vote on the new cabinet, but it remains unclear whether Rama will put Diella's virtual position to a vote.

Public Reaction and International Attention

Public reaction to the move has been mixed. One Facebook user commented, "Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania." Another stated, "The stealing will continue, and Diella will be the scapegoat."

International observers view Albania's initiative as a test case for the role of AI in democracy, potentially accelerating the development of global ethical AI frameworks. Rama envisions that, if successful, Diella's scope of functions could be expanded to areas such as budget or compliance monitoring.

New Exploration in Global Governance Models

This innovative initiative has sparked a global discussion about the role of AI in government governance. If Diella successfully achieves its promised "zero corruption" goal, it could provide a model for other countries facing corruption challenges, driving digital governance transformation worldwide.

However, this experiment also faces numerous challenges, including technical security, the refinement of human oversight mechanisms, and how to balance AI efficiency with the need for human-centric governance. Albania's bold attempt will undoubtedly become a global focal point, and its success or failure will profoundly impact future models of AI involvement in government governance.