Today marks the final day for applications in the race to become the next Director General of the Albanian State Police, following the departure of Ilir Proda from the position about 10 days ago.

So far, nine candidates have submitted applications for the country’s top police post. Among them are Elidon Çela, the head of the Vlora Police Directorate, and Pëllumb Seferi, director of International Relations at the State Police, who has a 28-year career in law enforcement.

Other applicants include Skënder Hitaj from the Fier Police Directorate, Afrim Tafa from Durrës, the Director of Criminal Police Neritan Nallbati, and former Tirana Police chief Tonin Vocaj.

Also joining the race are Lenc Panganika, Idajet Faskaj, and Gentian Shehaj.

After the application process closes, the Ministry of Interior of Albania will publish the list of candidates on its official website. Within the next 10 days, a special three-member commission—led by a deputy interior minister and including the ministry’s secretary general and the head of the Police Oversight Agency—will conduct a preliminary evaluation to verify whether candidates meet the legal requirements.

Following the review, the selected name will be proposed to the Interior Minister, who will then forward it to the Prime Minister for final approval.