Ermal Hasimja
Party not recorded
Profile
Ermal Hasimja is an Albanian academic, educator and political commentator. The European University of Tirana's 15-year article (25 Sep 2021) names him as one of its six founders, and the Ernest Koliqi school's staff page lists him as its administrator. Archived OSFA board pages list him as a board member (Anëtar Bordi) from the December 2018 capture to the November 2022 capture, and do not list him from March 2023 onward; he was always an ordinary member, never chair. His OSFA profile page (2021) describes him as a professor of political science and communication and lists a Kosovo Foundation for Open Society programme role, the Ernest Koliqi school and an adviser role to the Prime Minister in 2005–2006; the page does not state a reason. In October 2025 he announced an independent candidacy for mayor of Tirana and then withdrew it in favour of Florian Binaj, according to Wikipedia's citations (news pages not reviewed here). In 2026 he appears in Albanian media as a political analyst commenting on the protests, Edi Rama's government, SPAK and the Democratic Party. Earlier roles listed on Wikipedia (Kosovo Foundation for Open Society programme, a Democratic Party committee, a prime-ministerial PR role) are not corroborated.
Legal status
Status unknown
unknown
What this means: The research does not establish this person's legal status.
Response from Ermal Hasimja
No statement from Hasimja on OSFA board membership or on Soros was found. In the 2026 Balkanweb/News24 interviews he discusses Rama, SHISH, SPAK and the PD, and does not discuss OSFA or Soros as a topic.
Related cases
No case in the research lists this person.
Hypotheses
Possible explanations that connect this record with other findings. They are not findings; each lists the evidence for and against.
- Source label: Unverified
Hypothesis: Mundësia backed Ermal Hasimja as its Tirana mayoral candidate in 2025
Tests the claim in the existing Hasimja record (Wikipedia-based) that Shehaj or Mundësia proposed him. The sources conflict on who proposed him and on whether he ran with Mundësia's backing.
Evidence for
- Balkanweb (1 Oct 2025, sh-ev-mundesia-proposal-2025-10-01): Mundesia said it had proposed a candidate, name withheld. Shqiptarja (6 Oct 2025, sh-ev-shehaj-opposes-binaj-2025-10-06) reports that Mundesia had proposed Hasimja.
- Top Channel (6 Oct 2025, sh-conn-shehaj-hasimja) describes Shehaj as backing Hasimja; this is the journalist's wording, and no opened source quotes Shehaj naming him.
Evidence against
- Shehaj's own words (6 Oct 2025): the aim 'was not to impose the name of the candidate, but to choose the right candidate'. This reads as process-focused, not as a formal endorsement of Hasimja.
- Hasimja withdrew on 8 Oct 2025 (ermal-hasimja record), so no Mundesia-backed Tirana candidacy reached the vote.
- The Wikipedia claim that Shehaj personally proposed Hasimja (as cited in conflicts with the party-level attribution above; the source for it was not reviewed.
- Source label: Unverified
Hasimja was an ordinary member of the OSFA board, listed on the archived board page from December 2018 to November 2022.
Supported by 79 archived captures of the board page: absent on 6 November 2018, present from 9 December 2018 to 26 November 2022, absent from 29 March 2023. Captures show when the page was archived, not appointment or departure dates.
Evidence for
- Board listings with 'Anëtar Bordi' in archived captures 2019-03-14, 2019-12-14, 2021-01-17, 2021-01-23 and 2022-11-26
- Absence in the 2017-02-16 and 2023-08-02 captures and later
Evidence against
- Archived web page is not an official register; no term dates or appointment resolution shown
- Join and leave dates are bracketed by capture gaps, not confirmed by OSFA or a registry
- The domain now redirects to OSF-WB, which lists no board
- Source label: Unverified
Hasimja's OSFA board seat and earlier Kosovo Foundation role make him part of the Soros/OSF network.
DESCRIPTIVE ONLY – not established as a wrongdoing link
Evidence for
- OSFA's archived HTML title reads 'Soros' and OSFA is part of the OSF network (secondary report citing an OSFA fact sheet, not confirmed in the original source)
- Wikipedia claims a 2002–2004 KFOS programme director role (uncorroborated)
Evidence against
- Board membership is not evidence of wrongdoing; no source links him to a grant, decision or payment
- No OSF grant, contract or payment to him or to any organisation he leads was found
- In the 2026 interview summaries he does not discuss Soros or OSF as a topic
- Source label: Unverified
Hasimja has historically been close to the Democratic Party and to Sali Berisha.
PARTLY SUPPORTED by unverified claims; not established
Evidence for
- Wikipedia: KOP member 2005 (citation dated 2016 – conflict)
- Balkanweb 5 Sep 2026 summary: says he was a former Berisha adviser about 20 years ago
- 2025 Tirana candidacy backed by the opposition; he withdrew to back Binaj
Evidence against
- In 2026 interviews he is consistently critical of PD's credibility and structure
- He presents himself as an analyst and as an independent candidate
- Opposition unity and an opposition-backed candidate (Binaj) are not the same as PD membership
- Source label: Unverified
Hasimja has a current link to Edi Rama's government or the Socialist Party.
NOT SUPPORTED in sources reviewed
Evidence for
- Wikipedia claims a 2005 public-relations adviser role to the Prime Minister's office (unverified)
Evidence against
- His 2026 comments are critical of Rama, SHISH and the PS government
- No government appointment, ministry or agency post found in searches
- Source label: Unverified
Hasimja has a documented role in the justice reform, SPAK or related campaigns.
NOT SUPPORTED in sources reviewed
Evidence for
- He comments on SPAK in the 28 Sep 2026 interview
Evidence against
- No role in drafting, vetting, campaigning or litigating justice reform found
- His SPAK comments are commentary on Rama's position, not on SPAK's mandate
Connections
Open the map →OSFA board member (Anëtar Bordi)
Evidence: Archived OSFA board pages list him from the 2019-03-14 capture to the 2022-11-26 capture; absent from the 2023-08-02 capture onward.
UET founding member
Evidence: UET 15-year article names him as one of six founders.
Administrator
Evidence: School staff page: 'Administrator: Dr. Ermal Hasimja'.
Programme director 2002–2004 (Wikipedia only)
Evidence: Wikipedia biography; no second source found.
KOP member (2005) and self-described former Berisha adviser
Evidence: Wikipedia (KOP claim) and Balkanweb 5 Sep 2026 interview summary (former adviser claim); both unverified here.
2017 parliamentary candidate, Tirana (Wikipedia)
Evidence: Wikipedia biography; the source gives inconsistent dates for this run.
Candidacy reported as proposed by Partia Mundësia
Evidence: Top Channel (1 Oct 2025) paraphrases that his candidacy came from Partia Mundësia. Shqiptarja (6 Oct 2025, live text) says 'Partia Mundësia ka propozuar si kandidaturë Ermal Hasimjan'. Balkanweb (1 Oct 2025) says Mundësia proposed a name, not given.
Reported support for Hasimja's candidacy (not an announcement by Shehaj)
Evidence: Top Channel (6 Oct 2025) says Shehaj 'mbështet Ermal Hasimjan' (journalist's wording). No opened source quotes Shehaj naming or presenting Hasimja.
What they said vs. what the documents show
What was said · 5 Sep 2026
Berisha's US visit is 'a personal victory' for him but does not resolve PD's problems (paraphrase of Albanian: 'vizita e Berishës në Amerikë është një fitore personale e tij').
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Hasimja: vizita e Berishës në SHBA fitore personale (Balkanweb / News24 'Kjo Javë'; opened) (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb.com · 5 Sep 2026 · journalism · SQ
What was said · 5 Sep 2026
Reported as saying he worked as a former adviser to Sali Berisha about 20 years ago (retrieval-tool summary of the article; re-read the original).
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Hasimja: vizita e Berishës në SHBA fitore personale (Balkanweb / News24 'Kjo Javë'; opened) (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb.com · 5 Sep 2026 · journalism · SQ
What the documents show
Wikipedia says he was a KOP member (2005) and public-relations adviser to the Prime Minister's office (2005). Both are unverified; no document confirms a Berisha advisory post.
- Ermal Hasimja (Wikipedia; summarised via automated retrieval, citations not individually opened) (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · Nov 2026 · wiki · EN
What was said · 28 Sep 2026
'The real problem is that we have SHISH in the hands of organised crime' (Albanian: 'Problemi real është që SHISH në vend e kemi në duart e krimit të organizuar').
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Skandali i SHISH… Ermal Hasimja (Balkanweb; opened) (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb.com · 28 Sep 2026 · journalism · SQ
What was said · 28 Sep 2026
Rama's claim to have created SPAK is an attempt to exonerate himself; 'if it were up to Rama, SPAK would not exist' (Albanian: 'po të ishte për Ramën SPAK nuk do ekzistonte').
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Skandali i SHISH… Ermal Hasimja (Balkanweb; opened) (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb.com · 28 Sep 2026 · journalism · SQ
What the documents show
Not checked against primary documents. Other secondary reports (not confirmed in the original source) report the political dispute over SPAK between PS and opposition.
What was said · 12 Jan 2026
'Qeveria teknike mendoj unë se do të bënte gati situatën për zgjedhje të parakohshme' – a technical government would prepare the situation for early elections.
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Ermal Hasimja në 'Sot Live në Shqipëri' (Report TV) – Shqiptarja (opened) (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja.com · 12 Jan 2026 · journalism · SQ
What was said · 4 Oct 2025
Hasimja announced on Euronews Albania that he presents his candidacy for Mayor of Tirana, addressed Berisha directly, and said: "Me duket pozicioni logjik është që një opozitë e bashkuar të dalë me një kandidat të pavarur, i cili do të mbështetet nga një shumicë sa më e madhe e partive opozitare" (translation: 'The logical position seems to me to be that a united opposition should field an independent candidate, backed by as large a majority of opposition parties as possible'). He said he was putting himself forward 'me të njëjtat kritere që ai ka përcaktuar: kandidat i pavarur, pa logo specifike partie' ('on the same criteria he set: independent candidate, without a specific party logo').
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Euronews Albania, 4 Oct 2025: 'Ekskluzive/ Hasimja njofton live Berishën: Jam kandidat për Tiranën' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Euronews Albania · 4 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
What the documents show
Euronews Albania and Telegrafi both report the statement on 4 Oct 2025. The opened text does not mention Agron Shehaj or Partia Mundësia as announcing him.
- Euronews Albania, 4 Oct 2025: 'Ekskluzive/ Hasimja njofton live Berishën: Jam kandidat për Tiranën' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Euronews Albania · 4 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
- Telegrafi, 4 Oct 2025: 'Ermal Hasimja shpall kandidaturën për Bashkinë e Tiranës' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Telegrafi · 4 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
What was said · 1 Oct 2025
On 1 Oct 2025, asked about being named as a potential candidate, he said: "Kur të marr (nëse marr) një propozim zyrtar do të mund të mendohem dhe të marr një vendim" (translation: 'When I receive (if I receive) an official proposal I may think it over and take a decision'). He also said he felt valued that his name had been put forward.
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Top Channel, 1 Oct 2025: 'Kur të marr propozimin zyrtar do…' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · 1 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
What the documents show
Top Channel reports the statement on 1 Oct 2025, before his 4 Oct announcement.
- Top Channel, 1 Oct 2025: Hasimja reacts on Top Story, 'Emri im u propozua nga…' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · 1 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
What was said · 8 Oct 2025
In a Facebook post (quoted by Top Channel) he wrote: "Para pak ditësh paraqita dëshirën për të qenë kandidati i një opozite të bashkuar për Tiranën tonë. Procesi u mbyll. I uroj suksese Florian Binajt dhe e mbështes plotësisht" (translation: 'A few days ago I expressed the wish to be the candidate of a united opposition for our Tirana. The process is closed. I wish Florian Binaj success and fully support him'). He added that he would return to his previous life as a teacher.
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Top Channel, 8 Oct 2025: 'Ermal Hasimja heq dorë nga kandidimi, mbështet Binaj' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · 8 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
What the documents show
Top Channel reports the post (8 Oct 2025). Wikipedia dates the withdrawal to 7 Oct 2025 citing Opinion.al, not reviewed.
- Ermal Hasimja (Wikipedia; retrieval-tool summary, lead only; citations not reviewed) (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · Nov 2026 · wiki · EN
- Opinion.al, 7 Oct 2025 (cited by Wikipedia; not reviewed: page returned an empty shell) (opens in a new tab)Opinion.al · 7 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
What was said · 22 Oct 2025
On why he joined Binaj: "Florjani më mori në telefon, më kërkoi që ta mbështesja" (translation: 'Florian phoned me and asked me to support him'), and "nuk ka rëndësi a jam unë apo është Flori apo dikush tjetër" (translation: 'it does not matter whether it is me or Flori or someone else'). He said he was publicly ready to support him.
Speaker: Ermal Hasimja
Top Channel, 22 Oct 2025: 'Ja pse u bashkova me Binajn, Ermal Hasimja' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · 22 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
What the documents show
Top Channel reports the statement on 22 Oct 2025, two weeks after his withdrawal. This is his account of the support, not verified by Binaj.
- Top Channel, 22 Oct 2025: 'Ja pse u bashkova me Binajn, Ermal Hasimja' (opened) (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · 22 Oct 2025 · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Other
Archived OSFA board page does not list Hasimja
Wayback capture of osfa.al/bordi (2017-02-16) lists Remzi Lani (chair), Bernard Zeneli, Ilva Tare, Olsi Dekovi, Persida Asllani, Piro Misha and Sotiraq Guga. Hasimja is not listed.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Ermal Hasimja appears on OSFA board page
First capture showing Ermal Hasimja as board member. Capture date, not the date of the board decision.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
UET 15-year article names Hasimja as one of six founders
European University of Tirana anniversary article names him among six founders; the university opened in autumn 2006 per the article.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Hasimja profile page first shows a biography
Profile page /Bordi/ErmalHasimja shows a bio text from the 2021-10-17 capture; captures from 2019-07-20 to 2021-06-18 show only the title Anëtar Bordi.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Last archived capture listing Hasimja on OSFA board
Wayback capture of osfa.al/bordi dated 2022-11-26 lists Elona Mullahi (Koçi) as chair, with Bernard Zeneli, Eneida Guria, Lutfi Dervishi and Ermal Hasimja as members.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Ermal Hasimja no longer on OSFA board page
First capture without Ermal Hasimja. Capture date, not the date of resignation or removal.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
OSFA board page (Feb 2024 capture) still without Hasimja
Capture dated 2024-02-21 shows the same board as the August 2023 capture. A capture of 2024-11-12 also omits him.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Hasimja reacts on Top Story: named as a possible candidate, waits for an official proposal
Top Channel (1 Oct 2025) reports Hasimja's first reaction on 'Top Story': he says being named among the opposition's potential candidates for Tirana is an evaluation of him, and that he will decide only after an official proposal. Top Channel paraphrases that his candidacy came from Partia Mundësia, and that he proposed two other short-list names himself in a conversation with Mundësia MP Erald Kapri. This is not yet an announcement of candidacy.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Declares independent candidacy for Mayor of Tirana (Euronews Albania and Telegrafi, 4 Oct 2025)
Euronews Albania (exclusive, 4 Oct 2025, 18:32 UTC) and Telegrafi (4 Oct 2025, 18:45 UTC) report that Hasimja said he presents his candidacy for Mayor of Tirana, addressed Sali Berisha live, and asked for the support of Berisha and the opposition parties as an independent candidate without a party logo. Earlier reports of 1 Oct (Balkanweb, Top Channel) named him only as a potential candidate. Wikipedia's dates (1 Oct announcement, 5 Oct Telegrafi) are not confirmed by the opened sources. No source opened shows Agron Shehaj announcing or presenting him (see sh-ev-mundesia-proposal-2025-10-01).
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Tirana 2025: Mundësia's Hasimja proposal and Shehaj's opposition to Berisha's Binaj choice
Documented in the ermal-hasimja record (not repeated here): Mundësia proposed Ermal Hasimja (Shqiptarja live, 6 Oct 2025); Hasimja announced on 4 Oct 2025; Berisha chose Florjan Binaj on 6 Oct 2025; Shehaj said the aim 'was not to impose the name of the candidate, but to choose the right candidate' and opposed Binaj; Hasimja withdrew on 8 Oct 2025. Shehaj's own proposal step is recorded in sh-ev-mundesia-proposal-2025-10-01 (1 Oct 2025) and his opposition in sh-ev-shehaj-opposes-binaj-2025-10-06 (6 Oct 2025). This event is a cross-reference only; the Wikipedia-based claim that Shehaj personally proposed Hasimja is UNVERIFIED.
Linked: Agron Shehaj · Ermal Hasimja
Other
Shehaj publicly opposes Berisha's choice of Binaj
After Sali Berisha announced actor Florjan Binaj as the PD-backed independent candidate for Tirana (Shqiptarja, 6 Oct 2025), Mundësia leader Agron Shehaj said his party would not back Binaj's candidacy. Shqiptarja reports that Mundësia had proposed Ermal Hasimja and that Shehaj had been sceptical of the Binaj choice. Top Channel (6 Oct 2025) describes Shehaj as the most sceptical because he backs Hasimja (journalist's wording).
Linked: Agron Shehaj · Ermal Hasimja
Other
Withdraws Tirana mayoral candidacy and backs Florian Binaj (reported 8 Oct 2025)
Top Channel (8 Oct 2025) quotes Hasimja's Facebook post: he says he had recently wanted to be the candidate of a united opposition, 'Procesi u mbyll' (the process is closed), wishes Binaj success and fully supports him, and will go back to teaching and media work. Wikipedia dates the withdrawal to 7 Oct 2025, citing Opinion.al, which could not be opened, so the date is not settled: 7 Oct per Wikipedia, 8 Oct per the Top Channel report.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Hasimja says he joined Binaj after Binaj asked him for support
Top Channel (22 Oct 2025) publishes Hasimja's account that Florian Binaj phoned him and asked for his support, and that he had publicly said he was ready to back him. He says who the candidate is does not matter, the priority is to change Tirana for the better.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
Report TV comments on opposition unity and a technical government
Shqiptarja (12 Jan 2026) reports him as a political scientist on Report TV's 'Sot Live në Shqipëri', commenting on Ervin Salianji, PD internal challenge, opposition unity and a technical government as a route to early elections. Quotes are from the article summary, not manually re-read.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Other
News24 'Kjo Javë' interview on Berisha's US visit and protests
Balkanweb (5 Sep 2026) reports him as a guest on News24 'Kjo Javë' (host Nisida Tufa) calling Berisha's US visit a personal victory, and discussing the protests, a caretaker government and PD credibility.
Linked: Ermal Hasimja
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 22 sources.
Source label: VerifiedVerified · 18 sources
- Publisher
- Fondacioni Shoqëria e Hapur për Shqipërinë (archived)
- Date
- 23 Jan 2021
- Publisher
- Fondacioni Shoqëria e Hapur për Shqipërinë (archived)
- Date
- 14 Dec 2019
- Publisher
- Fondacioni Shoqëria e Hapur për Shqipërinë (archived)
- Date
- 14 Mar 2019
- Publisher
- European University of Tirana
- Date
- 25 Sep 2021
- Publisher
- Shkolla 'Ernest Koliqi', Tirana
- Date
- Nov 2026
- Publisher
- Balkanweb.com
- Date
- 5 Sep 2026
- Publisher
- Balkanweb.com
- Date
- 28 Sep 2026
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja.com
- Date
- 12 Jan 2026
- Publisher
- Fondacioni Shoqëria e Hapur për Shqipërinë (archived)
- Date
- 26 Nov 2022
- Publisher
- Fondacioni Shoqëria e Hapur për Shqipërinë (archived)
- Date
- 2 Aug 2023
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- Nov 2026
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- 1 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- Euronews Albania
- Date
- 4 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- Telegrafi
- Date
- 4 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- 1 Oct 2025