Editing Tirana (section)

=== Contemporary ===
{{See also|2018–2019 student protest in Albania}}
{{Further|2019 Albania earthquake}}
[[File:Streets of Tirana 2016.jpg|thumb|Mustafa Matohiti Street near the [[Pyramid of Tirana]]. After the [[fall of communism in Albania]], many areas saw new development.]]

During his term from 2000 to 2011, the former [[mayor of Tirana]], [[Edi Rama]], undertook a campaign to demolish illegal constructed buildings across Tirana as well as along the river banks of [[Lanë]] to bring the area to its pre-1990 state. In an attempt to widen roads, Rama authorized the bulldozing of private properties so that they could be paved over, thus widening streets. Most main roads underwent reconstruction, including the Unaza, [[Kavaja Street|Rruga e Kavajës]] and the main boulevard. Rama also led the initiative to paint the façades of Tirana's buildings in bright colours, although much of their interiors continued to degrade. Rama's critics claimed that he focused too much attention on cosmetic changes without fixing any of the major problems such as shortages of drinking water and electricity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rudi.net/pages/16989 |title=A bright and colourful new style of urban design emerges in Albania |publisher=Resource for Urban Design Information |access-date=16 August 2008 |archive-date=7 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807174853/http://www.rudi.net/pages/16989 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Pusca |first=Anca |year=2008 |title=The aesthetics of change: Exploring post-Communist spaces |journal=Global Society |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=369–386 |doi=10.1080/13600820802090512 |s2cid=7735000 |url=https://research.gold.ac.uk/3446/1/GlobalSocietyAsPublished.pdf |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923194420/https://research.gold.ac.uk/3446/1/GlobalSocietyAsPublished.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2007, [[George W. Bush]] traveled to Tirana on an official state visit, becoming the first [[U.S. President]] to visit the former communist country.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |title=Bush makes landmark visit to Albania |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554129/Bush-makes-landmark-visit-to-Albania.html |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007101412/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554129/Bush-makes-landmark-visit-to-Albania.html |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=10 June 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Thousands Hails Bush in Visit to Albania |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/world/europe/11prexy.html |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007101556/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/world/europe/11prexy.html |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=11 June 2007}}</ref> In 2008, the [[2008 Gërdec explosions|Gërdec explosions]] were felt in the capital as windows were shattered and citizens shaken. In January 2011, the [[2011 Albanian opposition demonstrations|Albanian opposition demonstrations]] were triggered in front of the governmental buildings in Tirana protesting against political corruption and state capture, particularly associated with the former prime minister [[Sali Berisha]]'s government.<ref>{{cite web |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Albania: 20,000 Protesters March Against Government; 3 Killed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/world/europe/22briefs-Albania.html |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007095346/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/world/europe/22briefs-Albania.html |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=21 January 2011}}</ref> In September 2014, [[Pope Francis]] made an official state visit to Tirana simultaneously becoming the second pontiff to visit Albania, after Pope John Paul II in 1992.<ref name="Pope Francis">{{cite web |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] (DW) |title=Pope Francis arrives in Albania on a flying visit |url=https://www.dw.com/en/pope-francis-arrives-in-albania-on-a-flying-visit/a-17937580 |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007092630/https://www.dw.com/en/pope-francis-arrives-in-albania-on-a-flying-visit/a-17937580 |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=21 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=Pope Francis praises human rights and religious freedom during Albania visit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/21/pope-francis-human-rights-religious-freedom-albania-tiranaorana |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007093046/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/21/pope-francis-human-rights-religious-freedom-albania-tiranaorana |archive-date=7 October 2020 |date=21 September 2014}}</ref>

Following the municipal elections of 2015, power was transferred from the [[Democratic Party of Albania|Democratic Party]] representative [[Lulzim Basha]] to the [[Socialist Party of Albania|Socialist Party]] candidate [[Erion Veliaj]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erion Veliaj takes office as Mayor of Tirana |url=http://english.albeu.com/news/news/erion-veliaj-takes-office-as-mayor-of-tirana/207965/ |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=1 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801055037/http://english.albeu.com/news/news/erion-veliaj-takes-office-as-mayor-of-tirana/207965/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Albania then underwent a territorial reform, in which defunct communes were merged with municipalities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reforma Territoriale – Harta – 61 bashki |url=http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/kryesore/harta-me-61-bashki |website=reformaterritoriale.al |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828144648/http://www.reformaterritoriale.al/kryesore/harta-me-61-bashki |url-status=dead}}</ref> Thirteen of Tirana's former communes were integrated as administrative units joining the existing eleven.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Veliaj suspends construction permits |url=http://english.albeu.com/news/news/veliaj-suspends-construction-permits/208263/ |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=16 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816161528/http://english.albeu.com/news/news/veliaj-suspends-construction-permits/208263/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Since then, Tirana is undergoing significant changes in infrastructure, law enforcement and new projects, as well as continuing the ones started by Veliaj's predecessor. In their first few council meetings, 242 social houses got allocated to families in need.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tirana City Council approves the allocation of social housing for 242 families |url=http://english.albeu.com/news/news/tirana-city-council-approves-the-allocation-of-social-housing-for-242-/209471/ |access-date=2015-08-31 |archive-date=20 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820175539/http://english.albeu.com/news/news/tirana-city-council-approves-the-allocation-of-social-housing-for-242-/209471/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Construction permits were suspended until the capital's development plan is revised and synthesized.<ref name=":0"/>

Between December 2018 and February 2019, a [[2018–2019 student protest in Albania|series of demonstrations]] erupted in the central areas of Tirana and other cities of the country in response to a controversial law on higher education, poor quality of teaching, high tuition rates and corruption.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Tirana Times]] |title=University students protest tariff hikes, low education standards in Albania |url=https://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=139540 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006181441/https://www.tiranatimes.com/?p=139540 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=5 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pomeroy |first=Robin |publisher=[[Reuters]] |title=Albanian students block Tirana highway in protest at higher fees |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-albania-protest-idUSKBN1OA24S |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006181710/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-albania-protest-idUSKBN1OA24S |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=11 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ehl |first=David |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] (DW) |title=France, Hungary, Serbia: Is half of Europe protesting? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/france-hungary-serbia-is-half-of-europe-protesting/a-46792738 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006182039/https://www.dw.com/en/france-hungary-serbia-is-half-of-europe-protesting/a-46792738 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=18 December 2018}}</ref> In September 2019, Tirana was ravaged by a 5.6 [[Moment magnitude scale|magnitude]] [[earthquake]] with an epicenter located near Durrës.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] (DW) |title=Albania jolted by strong earthquake, dozens reported injured |url=https://www.dw.com/en/albania-jolted-by-strong-earthquake-dozens-reported-injured/a-50531661 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006185228/https://www.dw.com/en/albania-jolted-by-strong-earthquake-dozens-reported-injured/a-50531661 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Andone |first1=Dakin |last2=Gashi |first2=Aldona |publisher=[[Cable News Network]] (CNN) |title=Albania struck by 5.6-magnitude earthquake, injuring at least 37 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/21/europe/earthquake-albania/index.html |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006185522/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/21/europe/earthquake-albania/index.html |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Euronews]] |title=Albania earthquake: Magnitude 5.6 tremor felt in capital Tirana |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/21/earthquake-of-magnitude-5-6-strikes-off-coast-of-albania |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006193101/https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/21/earthquake-of-magnitude-5-6-strikes-off-coast-of-albania |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 September 2019}}</ref> Two months after, in November 2019, another strong [[2019 Albania earthquake|earthquake]] with the magnitude of 6.4 hit the region again resulting in comparatively few damages in Tirana.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peltier |first1=Elian |last2=Magra |first2=Iliana |last3=Victor |first3=Daniel |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Albania Earthquake Kills at Least 23 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/world/europe/albania-earthquake-tirana.html |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006191853/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/world/europe/albania-earthquake-tirana.html |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=25 November 2019}}</ref> The same month, Tirana was announced as the [[European Youth Capital]] for 2022 with a planned program including events of cultural and social importance.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[European Youth Capital]] (EYC) |title=Congratulations, Tirana! Winner of the European Youth Capital for 2022 |url=https://www.youthforum.org/congratulations-tirana-winner-european-youth-capital-2022 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006200427/https://www.youthforum.org/congratulations-tirana-winner-european-youth-capital-2022 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |date=21 November 2019}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

In December 2022, Tirana hosted the [[2022 EU-Western Balkans summit|EU-Western Balkans summit]], marking the inaugural summit to be held outside the European Union's borders.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[European Council]] (EUCO) |title=Eu-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, 6 December 2022 |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2022/12/06/ |access-date=7 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207073849/https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2022/12/06/ |archive-date=7 December 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 21 September 2024, it was reported that [[Prime Minister of Albania]] [[Edi Rama]] was planning to create the [[Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order]], a sovereign [[microstate]] for the Order within Tirana.<ref name="nyt_article">{{Cite news |last=Higgens |first=Andrew |date=21 September 2024 |title=Albania Is Planning a New Muslim State Inside Its Capital |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/21/world/europe/albania-tirana-muslim-state-bektashi.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=21 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921090757/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/21/world/europe/albania-tirana-muslim-state-bektashi.html }}</ref>