Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali invited lawmakers to observe one minute’s silence in honour of Bogdani and express sympathy, grief and pain following the sudden death of the former MP.

“Gert was a dear husband, father, son and brother. His sudden departure is painful for his family,  friends and everyone who knew him. Gert Bogdani was a politician with human, intellectual, civic and professional integrity, who served with dedication to local government in Tirana and as member of the Albanian Assembly in two legislatures from 2009 to 2017,” Spiropali said.

Top state and government officials, lawmakers, family relatives, friends and ordinary citizens paid last respects to former MP Bogdani at Parliament’s hall before he was laid to rest on Thursday.

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Tributes in his honor were paid in the hall of the Parliament of Albania at 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., and later there will be held the funeral at the “Sharra” cemetery.

Attending the ceremony at the Parliament, there were the MPs of the Democratic Party Flamur Noka, Gazment Bardhi as well as Speaker of the Assembly Elisa Spiropali.

In honor of the figure of former MP Gert Bogdani, the Parliament suspended its activities, postponing the proceedings of the plenary session scheduled for this morning into the afternoon. The Democratic Party is also observing today a day of mourning, canceling all activities throughout the country.

Bogdani is survived by his wife Edlira Çepani and their two children, Ajra and Reinart. /a.f/p.s./

After graduating from “Harry Fultz” high school with excellent results and a ‘Gold Medal’, Bogdani continued his higher studies at the Polytechnic University of New York, where he graduated with ‘Highest Honors’ (Summa Cum Laude). being also announced as the winner of the Outstanding Graduate Award – ‘Gold Medal’.

Then he returned to Albania starting his professional career in the academic field at the University of New York – Tirana. He is the founder and leader of the Network of Albanian Students in the World.

He started his political career in 2007; he ran with the Democratic Party for Mayor of Municipal Unit no. 10 Tirana, a race which he won.

During this time, he also continued his activity as a political spokesperson of the Democratic Party. In 2009, at the age of 29, Gerti Bogdani ran in the Parliamentary Elections of June 28, 2009, and was elected the youngest MP in the Assembly of Albania. From 2009 onwards, he continued his activity as Chairman of the Youth Forum of the Democratic Party.

In 2011, he was elected vice president of the International Young Democrat Union (IYDU) and then, in January 2012, vice president.

In September 2015, he was elected Chairman of IYDU, at the Congress held in Lisbon, Portugal, thus becoming the first Albanian politician to hold such a high position in an international organization.

After years of active engagement in the leadership structures, in the 2019 elections, he became the most voted member of the Leading Board of the Democratic Party, with over 70% of the votes.

In 2022, he competed in the DP primaries to be a candidate for the Tirana race.

Gert Bogdani was married to the activist Edlira Çepani and is the father of Ajra and Reinart. /a.f/p.s./

Rama offered his condolences to his wife and the Bogdani family for the loss of their beloved one.

“Regret at such an untimely death and condolences to the wife and the Bogdani family,” the prime minister wrote in the social media.

The former MP of the Democratic Party Gerti Bogdani died today at the age of 44 due to a heart attack. /m.m/p.s./

Attending the ceremony held in the premises of the “Pole of Justice”, there were members of the High Prosecutorial Council, Prosecutor General Olsian Cela, the Head of the School of Magistrates Arben Rakipi, the heads of the prosecution offices and representatives from the OPDAT and EU4 JUSTICE assistance missions.

In her speech, Head of High Prosecutorial Council Mirela Bogdani said among other things that, “Prosecutors are the missionaries of the new justice, which for over five years has created tectonic movements in the entire criminal justice system and has raised new expectations to the public, so the prosecutors must lead the criminal prosecution in the interest of the public”.

“You will now lead the prosecution in the public interest! This is undoubtedly a great power given to you by the legislator, so you have the obligation to manage it well in the function of the interests of society, of the state, in protection and respect of basic human rights and freedoms, to administer it with humility and responsibility. You will have to follow these standards of integrity from taking the first steps in the profession and reflect them day after day, until the last moment when you will serve as prosecutors of your country, the country you have chosen to grow professionally, create families and raise your children,” said Bogdani.

On his part, General Prosecutor Olsian Çela congratulated the new prosecutors for the noble and responsible duty they are entrusted with.

He emphasized once again the importance of performing this task not only with professionalism and integrity and to consider it not only as a job, but as a service to the public, the country and the law.

At the end, there was held the swearing-in ceremony of the 23 new prosecutors, who now officially become part of the prosecution system in the Republic of Albania. /m.m/a.f/p.s./

Mirela Bogdani was the only candidate to take over the chair of this institution of justice. While presenting the platform to the members of the Council, Bogdani revealed her ambition to increase the logistical capacities, to reform the judicial system and to promote cooperation with the international community.

The election of Bogdani follows the former head Alfred Balla leaving the justice system for 15 years, according to the decision taken by the Special Appellate College. Last week, the High Prosecutorial Council decided to approve Balla’s dismissal in compliance with the decision of the Special Appellate College.

During presentation of the platform, Bogdani said that the main goal of her work will be the continuation of work to strengthen and increase public trust in justice.

She also said that the justice reform is yielding results. For Bogdani, it is important that the path the new justice is on is irreversible, also as part of Albania’s path to EU integration./a.f/p.s./

Speaking to reporters, Bogdani said that, “Unfortunately, over the years and especially during the last 8 years, Tirana has suffered a severe deformity and has experienced not only a destruction of heritage and identity, but also a significant deterioration of our daily lives as residents of the capital. There is not a single resident of Tirana who does not suffer today from the consequences of the city’s mismanagement”.

“Let’s start with the children; their green spaces and playgrounds have been taken away from them and turned into buildings of concrete. The constructions have been without criteria and are taking the breath away more and more from every resident of this city. The heavy traffic makes the citizens lose money and time. We breathe polluted air every day and suffer the noise pollution from the trucks and concrete mixers that have invaded the city”, underlined Bogdani.

Bogadani added that, “There is a total lack of attention for rural areas, for infrastructure, for services and for the well-being of the residents of these areas only because they are far from the objective of cameras and propaganda”.

According to him, every one of us experiences everyday problems and troubles in this city.

“So the time has come for these problems to be solved. Now, it’s the time for a real alternative for the good governance of our city, for a different model and vision”, said Bogdani./k.s/p.s./