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| In the center of the city of Kukës |
A Sculpture Symbolizing the Connection Between Has and the UK
A new typographic sculpture has recently been installed in the center of the town of Kruma, the administrative center of Has Municipality. The sculpture features text in English and a heart symbol, with the Albanian flag in the right ventricle and the UK flag in the left. This monument serves as a testament to the strong connection between this small northern Albanian municipality and the UK, where a large portion of the Has diaspora resides.
The UK has been the preferred migration destination for people from Has, Kukës, and Tropoja since 1998-2000. Due to their proximity to war-torn Kosovo at the time, many residents of this border region sought a new life abroad. Most of them claimed Kosovar identity to escape poverty, using their similar dialect to obtain asylum in the UK, mainly in London, under false names.
Over the years, this generation of emigrants has integrated into British society, primarily working in the construction sector. At the same time, these emigrants have significantly improved the economic and social conditions in Kukës, Has, and Tropoja. In the smallest municipality of the county, there has been a construction boom for years, largely financed by their remittances.
Millions of Euros Sent Back Home
A representative from Western Union, one of the major international money transfer companies, told BIRN that millions of euros are sent annually through their services.
"In 2024 alone, Western Union has processed incoming money transfers worth 4.2 million euros," said the Western Union representative in Kukës. This amount is equivalent to the projected budget revenues of Kukës Municipality for the next three years.
Low Voter Participation Despite New Voting Rights
In the parliamentary elections held on May 11, emigrants were given the opportunity to vote for the first time. However, very few former residents of Kukës County showed interest in participating in local politics.
Data from the Central Election Commission (CEC) indicates that despite its high emigration rate, Kukës has the lowest number of registered emigrant voters. According to official figures, only 3,928 voters from Kukës registered with the CEC.
"I threw the registration envelope in the trash, and I have done this repeatedly," one emigrant told Albanian registrars. "I run a construction company, and that’s where my focus is. I’m not interested in elections in Albania."
Party representatives tasked with registering the diaspora admitted that the process was challenging. A Socialist Party (PS) official in Has, who also heads a local institution, told BIRN anonymously that out of 12 people he approached, only six agreed to register.
"The reasons for refusal vary, but the main obstacle is documentation. Some do not want to disclose their residential address, while others have irregular paperwork," he said. Additionally, he noted that many emigrants are indifferent to Albanian elections, seeing all political parties as the same and unaffected by local political developments.
A PS executive in Kukës attributed the low registration numbers to documentation issues. "Many Kukës emigrants are undocumented in the UK, Germany, or other Western countries. Being undocumented doesn’t prevent them from registering, but they refuse to reveal their home address. Meanwhile, those registered as Kosovar citizens are ineligible to vote," he explained.
Halit Muçmata, a senior member of the Democratic Party (PD) branch in Kukës, also cited documentation and residency permits as barriers to voter registration. However, he believes PD holds an advantage among registered emigrant voters, though the diaspora vote is likely to be evenly split. "I estimate that about 50% of registered emigrants will vote for PD," Muçmata told BIRN.
The Political Impact of the Emigrant Vote
CEC data shows that while voter interest was low, registered emigrants represent about 4.7% of the electorate in Kukës County, which elects three MPs. Although this figure is nearly three times the margin between mayoral candidates of the two main parties in past local elections, it is insignificant compared to the 10,200-vote lead that PD had in the county in 2021.
The low expectations for shifting election results have made the campaign for emigrant votes less intense in Kukës. Unlike other regions, the opposition has not raised complaints about the misuse of government administration in the election process.
Elez Maçi, head of the PD branch in Has, stated that they had no reports of government pressure or interference. "We have no information about pressure or intervention, also because the opposition controls Has Municipality. If we had any, we would make it public," he said. Similarly, in Kukës Municipality, the political climate remains unchanged.
Efforts to Secure Emigrant Votes
Despite the low interest, government institutions were also involved in encouraging voter registration. As is common practice, public administration employees were reportedly asked to secure ten votes each for the ruling party.
"We were told to secure ten votes each, but there was no pressure. I only managed to register four emigrants from a family living in France. They are now registered, and I informed my director with a screenshot of their application," an administration employee stated. "I did not tell them whom to vote for, but I believe they will vote for PS because I know their political views," he concluded.