It only escalated from there. Rama, in a series of X posts, called Farage’s figures “bonkers” and questioned how many were convicted due to the U.K.’s “outdated immigration and visa system,” yet decided to kill Farage with kindness and invite him to visit to enjoy “real sun, real hospitality, and even more facts about Albania and its fabulous people.”
Farage eventually accepted the invitation on the condition that he would discuss the return of Albanian prisoners. Since a 2023 agreement with the Conservative government of Rishi Sunak, just eight Albanian prisoners have been repatriated, according to U.K. Justice Minister Nic Dakin during a House of Commons grilling.
So what could be on Farage’s holiday itinerary?
Farage and Rama were both approached for comment on when the former’s flight was due to arrive. Although no response was received by the time of publication, POLITICO decided to create a draft itinerary, just in case.
- Visiting bunkers: Albania is home to up to 700,000 concrete bunkers built during the totalitarian communist regime of dictator Enver Hoxha. They were to provide defense against any possible invaders, something that could inspire Farage in his bid to fend off an “invasion” of migrants from across the English Channel.
- Meet some sworn virgins: Farage has been vocal in his criticism of the “woke” agenda and his plans to ban the “transgender ideology,” so perhaps a meeting with some sworn virgins could be of interest. Also known as “burrnesha,” these are women who, to assume the responsibilities of a deceased father or male head of the family, take a vow of celibacy and adopt male dress, mannerisms and behavior. While diminished in numbers with just three remaining, and while strictly not related to the LGBTQ+ community, it might give him some food for thought.
- Drink raki: After upsetting Bulgarians with similar rhetoric against potential migrants, Farage took a trip to the country in 2013. He was filmed enjoying a glass of wine and the charms of some local musicians and dancers. Farage may be tempted to swap his trademark pint of ale for some raki, a potent spirit made from grapes or plums, and while away the summer nights.
- Visit the Bektashi World Headquarters: Having previously been accused of peddling anti-Muslim rhetoric, Farage could broaden his horizons with a trip to the Bektashi World Headquarters in Tirana, home to a moderate sect of Sufi Islam that welcomes women and alcohol in their rituals. They are also possibly going to become Albania’s version of the Vatican if a 2025 announcement by Rama to turn them into a sovereign state within the country comes to fruition.
- Go back to his roots: As the great-grandson of a German immigrant who fled to the U.K. in search of a better life and the husband of a German woman, Farage could pay his respects at the German War Cemetery in the center of Tirana. Depending on the timing of his visit, he could also be the guest of honor at the joint ceremony hosted by the U.K. and German ambassadors every Remembrance Sunday. He could also check out a fragment of the Berlin Wall outside Rama’s office while he’s at it.
- Visit the Puppet Theatre: Farage has described himself as a “pantomime villain” and said that when he leaves politics, “I want to go to the theater.” So he could use his visit to Albania as a chance to visit the historic Puppet Theatre. Lovingly restored with European Union funds after the 2019 earthquake, it may also remind him of the time he called French President Emmanuel Macron a “puppet” of former European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.
- Visit the statue of Queen Elizabeth II: In the northern town of Has, where more than 80 percent of locals have family in the U.K., a statue of Queen Elizabeth II has been erected in the center. Farage could also head over to nearby Kukës, another city with strong ties to the U.K., where he can visit “Costa Caffe,” and count the number of cars with telltale yellow British number plates. The city was also the first in the world to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize due to its assistance to some 400,000 Kosovar refugees during the 1998-1999 war, a tale of empathy that could inspire a change of heart in Farage.
- Have a nice cuppa: Farage famously had a coffee cup thrown at him during the 2024 election campaign, but he can expect a much warmer welcome in Albania. While not big fans of tea, locals take coffee very seriously, and Tirana has one of the highest numbers of coffee shops per capita in Europe. Furthermore, besa, the Albanian code of honor that puts guests above god and even family, means he is at (almost) no risk of a repeat incident.
- Just chill at the beach: According to Rama’s AI-generated images, sitting on the beach is going to be top of the agenda. Albania’s coastline stretches for some 276 kilometers, passing along the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, and offers plenty of opportunity for him to take a well-deserved break.
But seriously, who is right?
In October 2024, the Telegraph published an article that alleged 52,000 Albanians were living in the U.K., with 1,227 in jail, apparently the source of Farage’s claims.
POLITICO contacted the Albanian ambassador to London, Uran Ferizi, to ask for their data on the number of Albanians in the U.K. He said: “We believe there are more than 300,000,” and shared a document that notes the Telegraph’s figures exclude naturalized Albanians, U.K.-born Albanian children, and “tens of thousands” of Albanians with Greek and Italian passports, as indicated by consular records.
As for the number of Albanians imprisoned, the embassy document states it does not account for age, sex and socioeconomic status and continues that when adjusting for demographic imbalances and the actual number of Albanians in the U.K., the implied imprisonment rate is: “approximately 1 in 500.”
If Farage concedes his facts are wrong, Rama has requested he be the first to tell anyone bad-mouthing Albanians “not to do it again.” Watch this space.