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EXCLUSIVE: Two Republican members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern over the state of NATO ally Albania’s democratic backsliding, urging the department to use its visa restriction authority against Albanian officials complicit in significant corruption.

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«We write to express concern about the state of democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Albania, a NATO ally and candidate for European Union membership. The United States has invested heavily in Albania’s justice reforms and has a strong interest in their success. Recent events suggest that progress is fragile and, in key areas, at risk of reversal,» the letter to Secretary Rubio said.

Specifically, the letter urges Secretary Rubio to use the State Department’s authority under Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act to publicly designate Albanian officials and their immediate family members, if necessary, if credible information of involvement in significant corruption exists.

SERBIA’S LONGTIME LEADER FACES BIGGEST POLITICAL TEST AS STUDENTS MOUNT ELECTION CHALLENGE

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A protester holds an Albanian flag as he faces off with police water cannon vehicles during an anti-government demonstration in central Tirana on Oct. 17, 2026, as protests continued for a fifth consecutive day over university conditions and demands for the resignation of the Albanian prime minister. (Armend Nimani / AFP via Getty Images)

The letter, written by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and his Republican colleague, House Europe Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, requested the administration answer four key questions by Nov. 5.

In addition to asking the state department to commit to reviewing Albanian officials for designation under its visa restriction authority, the members of congress inquired about what assistance is being provided to Albania’s broader justice reform efforts and whether the U.S. Embassy in Tirana is working with local officials to protect protesters and journalists.

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The Republican representatives are also requesting an update on former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who was charged with interfering in public procurement for road construction. Prosecutors asked parliament in December 2025 to lift her immunity so she could be arrested, but Prime Minister Edi Rama called the request unconstitutional, and parliament has not allowed the arrest to proceed.

The members of congress say that Albania’s anti-corruption institutions cannot succeed in rooting out corruption when political leaders shield the officials they investigate.

US LAWMAKERS SOUND ALARM AS VIOLENCE GRIPS NATO ALLY ALBANIA AMID ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS

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Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama speaks during a press conference following the EU-Albania Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, Belgium, on May 26, 2026. (Daniel Gnap/NurPhoto)

Like fellow protesters in France and across Europe, tens of thousands have protested amid allegations of government corruption, inadequate education, unemployment and a lack of opportunity. The growing nationwide protest movement is driven by students and citizens also demanding accountability, an end to corruption and what they say is the restoration of democratic institutions and the rule of law.

Demonstrations broke out in the capital, Tirana, two weeks ago, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The protests quickly turned violent as demonstrators lobbed Molotov cocktails at the Education Ministry and clashed with police.

Protesters also took aim at Rama’s Socialist Party headquarters in Tirana, squaring off with riot police who had been dispatched to protect government property.

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Albanian police officers in riot gear operate during an anti-government demonstration in central Tirana on Oct. 18, 2026, as protests continued for a sixth consecutive day over university conditions and demands for the resignation of Albania’s prime minister. (Armend Nimani/AFP via Getty Images)

Rama blamed «foreign hands who do not want Albania in the European Union and who promote the masks that claim to represent students, but who in fact, more than students, represent organized crime itself.»

So far, the prime minister has refused to resign but has proposed entering into dialogue with the protesters.

FRANCE ROCKED BY STUDENT RIOTS AS HUNDREDS ARRESTED, VIOLENCE SPREADS NATIONWIDE

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The violence taking place across Albania is a worrying sign for a country struggling to maintain its democracy and continue the path to EU accession.

«Congress is deeply concerned about the situation in Albania as the government uses excessive force against citizens who are demanding accountability and clean institutions. Corruption and narcotrafficking associated with the Rama government must be countered,» Rep. Wilson told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is seen in the Fiserv Forum on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, July 15, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The turmoil in Albania comes as the country has long sought European Union membership, which began in 2014 when it became an official candidate for accession. While the 2025 annual European Commission report stated that Albania made significant strides in judicial reforms and combating organized crime, the continued allegations of corruption in the Rama government and the current violence taking place will complicate its path to EU membership.

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The student protests in Albania mirror the mass protests that took place in neighboring Serbia, where a student-led political movement toppled longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić.

Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, arrives for the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

«Vucic’s defeat by a student-backed movement, following nearly two years of demonstrations over corruption and government accountability, is a striking parallel with the unrest now confronting Rama in Albania, where protests have been ongoing for over 150 days,» Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the U.N. and U.S., told Fox News.

«In Albania, students and other citizens have been demonstrating since May, with the latest wave of daily protests intensifying demands for the resignation of a prime minister who has governed for more than 13 years with rampant corruption and declining public services,» Nesho added.

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the balkans, state department, secretary of state, congress, foreign affairs, europe

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her job would be «a lot easier» if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loses his bid to remain in power.

«A lot easier. And here’s the challenge: I represent the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel,» Hochul told Politico Magazine when asked «How much easier would your job get if [Benjamin] Netanyahu loses?»

«And I know they’re suffering,» Hochul continued. «A lot of people are anxious about antisemitism, which is sky-high right now. And I take that personally, because I represent everyone. I went to Israel right after Oct. 7. I saw a lot of pain there. But I actually cautioned the government there, in private conversations, not to overreach.»

Israelis cast their ballots on Tuesday in the country’s first general election since the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. Tuesday’s election in Israel notably came just one week before the U.S. midterm elections – which includes Hochul’s race to retain her position as New York’s top leader.

POTENTIAL 2028 DEM CONTENDER UNLOADS ON NETANYAHU, ADMITS US-ISRAEL TIES AT ‘CROSSROADS’

«The world is with you when it comes to the brutal assault by a terrorist organization known as Hamas on innocent Israeli people,» she continued. «An overreach could change that dynamic, and that’s what’s happened.»

The Democratic governor went on to say that she does not believe it is currently in Netanyahu’s «interest» to «have a safe Palestinian state.»

Hochul is not the only prominent New York Democrat to criticize Netanyahu. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been even more outspoken, calling the Israeli leader «the architect of horrific genocide against Palestinians» in September.

Hochul is also facing voters in November, but a Siena Research Institute poll released Wednesday showed her holding a 14-point lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, 54% to 40%.

RAHM EMANUEL ACCUSES ANTI-ISRAEL DEMS OF HAVING NO MIDDLE EAST PLAN BESIDES CUTTING FUNDING TO JEWISH STATE

Hochul notably issued a proclamation on May 11 recognizing the month as Jewish American Heritage Month in her state.

«We have to have leadership there that understands the security of Israel is paramount — critically important to me, but also the world — but to have a safe Palestinian state as well, which has been talked about my entire life,» Hochul told Politico Magazine. «I still believe that this can happen. I believe we have to get people of goodwill who can make this happen, and as long as Netanyahu is sitting there, that is not in his interest to do that. It’s just not, and it won’t happen.»

When reached for comment, Hochul’s office directed Digital to the governor’s remarks to Spectrum News NY1 during a Q&A with the press in New York City on Wednesday.

«Well, that’s certainly [voters’] prerogative to decide who they want to lead Israel,» Hochul told NY1. «It’s not mine. But I was simply asked a question, if you see how it’s framed. Would your life be a lot easier if Netanyahu was not the leader of Israel? I’m like, yes.»

FORMER ISRAELI ARMY CHIEF GADI EISENKOT EMERGES AS NETANYAHU’S LEADING ELECTION CHALLENGER

Tuesday’s vote marked a major test for Netanyahu’s political future as Israelis headed to the polls for the first time since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

«I am proud of Israel’s democratic process,» Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told Digital. «Yesterday, millions of Israelis exercised their democratic right to vote, with voter turnout reaching one of the highest levels recorded in Israel this century – 77.7%. The Israeli people have made their voices heard, and their democratic choice deserves to be respected.»

«I encourage all elected officials in the United States to respect Israel’s democratic process, just as Israel respects the democratic process in the United States,» Danon added. «Our shared commitment to democracy is a fundamental pillar of the strong and enduring partnership between our two countries.»

With about 70% of the votes tallied as of Wednesday morning, partial results reported by Israeli media showed Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc leading with 54 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, versus 47 for the main opposition and 19 for Arab parties.

politics, kathy hochul, benjamin netanyahu, israel, hamas, new york, world

Mientras avanza la investigación por el trágico choque de trenes que dejó más de 60 muertos y decenas de heridos en Tolosa, España, los especialistas ya analizan las primeras hipótesis del accidente.

Hasta el momento, las teorías apuntan a una falla en el sistema de señalización y a una posible equivocación del operador que autorizó la reanudación del servicio sin respetar las medidas de seguridad previstas para esa situación.

El accidente ocurrió esta mañana, a la altura de la estación de Urda, en un tramo ferroviario situado entre las localidades de Mora, Orgaz y Urda. Según las primeras reconstrucciones, una formación AVE chocó desde atrás contra un tren de la empresa Iryo que había quedado detenido unos 25 kilómetros más adelante.

La investigación busca determinar por qué, ante una falla informática, el centro de control ordenó que los trenes retomaran la marcha a velocidad normal. De acuerdo con fuentes del Ejecutivo español, el operador tenía en su pantalla información sobre la presencia de la formación detenida, pero no habría advertido al conductor del AVE que debía reducir la velocidad o frenar.

Las hipótesis

El sistema de seguridad LZB, utilizado para controlar la circulación de los trenes de alta velocidad en España, dejó de funcionar durante la mañana del accidente. La falla provocó la detención de alrededor de seis formaciones en la zona, tres en cada sentido de circulación, según indicó el medio El País.

Ocho minutos después, el centro de control pasó a operar de manera manual y autorizó a los trenes a reanudar el recorrido. Sin embargo, la formación de Iryo no logró arrancar y permaneció detenida sobre las vías por motivos que todavía no fueron esclarecidos.

En ese contexto, las primeras hipótesis apuntan a un posible error humano. Según fuentes del Ejecutivo, el operador de Adif -la empresa estatal que administra la infraestructura ferroviaria- habría autorizado al AVE a continuar con normalidad, pese a que tenía un tren detenido por delante.

La principal sospecha es que el controlador no solo habría dado la orden de avanzar, sino que tampoco habría indicado al conductor que debía detenerse durante los aproximadamente 25 kilómetros que separaban ambas formaciones.

Los investigadores consideran difícil de explicar esa decisión, ya que el sistema de control debía mostrar en pantalla la ubicación del tren detenido. Las órdenes impartidas quedaron registradas tanto en audio como por escrito y ya fueron revisadas por los técnicos que participan de la investigación.

trenes