Florjan Binaj
Florjan Binaj | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 October 1985 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Known for | Portokalli, Piranjat |
| Children | 3 |
Florjan Binaj (born 12 October 1985) is an Albanian comedian, actor, television presenter and activist. He is best known for his long-running work on the sketch comedy show Portokalli, where he became widely known for political satire and for impersonating public figures, including Albanian prime minister Edi Rama.[1][2]
After leaving Portokalli and Top Channel in 2022, Binaj became one of the presenters of the satirical investigative programme Piranjat, first on ABC News Albania and later on Syri TV.[3][4][5]
Binaj has also been active in civic protests in Albania, including demonstrations over price increases and broader anti-government and civic causes.[1][6] In October 2025, he announced an independent candidacy for Mayor of Tirana in the planned 2025 Tirana mayoral by-election, which was later cancelled by the Constitutional Court of Albania.[7][2][8]
Early life and personal life
[edit]Binaj was born in Tirana on 12 October 1985.[9] He is married to Sadina Allaj Binaj and has three children.[10]
Career
[edit]Portokalli
[edit]Binaj became widely known through Portokalli, a long-running Albanian sketch comedy and satire programme broadcast by Top Channel.[3] During his time on the show, he performed a range of satirical roles and was especially associated with his impersonation of Edi Rama, whom he portrayed at different stages of Rama's political career.[1][11]
In March 2022, Binaj announced that he was leaving Portokalli and Top Channel after 18 years with the programme.[3] In his public statement, he said that he had decided to resign after spending half of his life connected to the show.[3]
Film and television presenting
[edit]Binaj appeared in the Albanian film Alive.[12][13]
In 2022, he became one of the presenters of Piranjat, an investigative and satirical television programme. The programme initially launched on ABC News Albania and T7 under the moderation of Binaj and singer Arilena Ara.[4] In 2023, Piranjat returned on Syri TV, with Binaj presenting alongside Dojna Mema.[5] The programme has been described as an investigative show that combines reporting, satire and coverage of social issues.[4][5]
Activism
[edit]Binaj has been involved in civic causes and protests in Albania. In October 2021, he joined protests against price increases and called on young people and artists to participate, describing the demonstrations as a civic movement affecting all citizens.[6]
In March 2022, during protests against rising prices of food, fuel and transport, Binaj became one of the public faces of the demonstrations. BIRN reported that he addressed protesters outside the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama, using the microphone that had made him famous as a comedian for political protest rather than television satire.[1] The protests followed price increases that the government linked to the economic effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while protesters accused the government of failing to protect citizens from the rising cost of living.[1]
Binaj has also been described in Albanian media as active in environmental and civil-rights initiatives.[14]
2025 Tirana mayoral candidacy
[edit]In October 2025, Binaj announced that he would run as an independent candidate for mayor of Tirana in the planned partial local election scheduled for 9 November 2025.[7] He appealed for support from citizens and political forces across party lines, saying that the capital needed a "citizen leader" elected by citizens rather than a mayor serving only one party.[7][15]
His candidacy received support from several opposition parties. The Democratic Party of Albania-ASHM announced support for Binaj through party leader Sali Berisha, who described him as the opposition's candidate for Tirana.[16] Other opposition groups, including the Freedom Party, Opportunity Party, Albania Becomes Movement and Hashtag Initiative, also expressed support for his candidacy.[17][18][19][20]
BIRN described the candidacy as an unusual move in Albanian politics, noting that Binaj was known to the public both as a comedian and as an activist, and that his political profile had been shaped partly by his television impersonation of Rama and by his participation in protests against the government.[2] The Washington Post also covered the candidacy, presenting it as part of a wider moment in which Albanian politics mixed satire, anti-corruption debates and the country's European Union aspirations.[21]
The Tirana by-election was suspended in October 2025 and later cancelled after the Constitutional Court of Albania overturned the dismissal of incumbent mayor Erion Veliaj.[22][8] On 3 November 2025, after the Constitutional Court decision, Binaj said that he would run whenever elections for mayor of Tirana were held.[23][24]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Alive | Iliri | Albanian drama film |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2022 | Portokalli | Comedian, actor | Sketch comedy and satire programme on Top Channel |
| 2022 | Piranjat | Presenter | With Arilena Ara on ABC News Albania and T7 |
| 2023–present | Piranjat | Presenter | With Dojna Mema on Syri TV |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 Sinoruka, Fjori (23 March 2022). "Double Act: Rama's TV Impersonator Becomes Face of Protests Rocking Albania". Balkan Insight. BIRN. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 Sinoruka, Fjori (6 October 2025). "Albania's opposition backs actor-activist for Tirana mayor". Balkan Insight. BIRN. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "Aktori i njohur i humorit, Florjan Binaj njofton largimin nga Portokallia dhe Top Channel" [Famous comedian Florjan Binaj announces departure from Portokalli and Top Channel]. Koha Jonë (in Albanian). 30 March 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Nën moderimin e Arilena Arës dhe Florian Binajt, nis "Piranjat" në ABC dhe T7: Emisioni ku gjithçka mund të ndodhë dhe askush nuk është më i sigurt". ABC News Albania (in Albanian). 18 April 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "VIDEO/ Rikthehet emisioni investigativ 'Piranjat', Florian Binaj në ekranin e Syri Tv së bashku me Dojna Mema". Dosja.al (in Albanian). 2 September 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Actor Calls on Youths to Join Movement against Price Increase". Albanian Daily News. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Aktori Florjan Binaj shpall kandidaturën për kryetar Bashkie të Tiranës" [Actor Florjan Binaj announces candidacy for Mayor of Tirana]. Panorama (in Albanian). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Albania Constitutional Court Overturns Decision Sacking Tirana Mayor". Balkan Insight. BIRN. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "VIDEO/ Florjan Binaj, sot 40 vjeç: Zbulova sa i fortë jam falë atyre që kanë dashur të më bëjnë keq". Ora News (in Albanian). 12 October 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Florjan Binaj bëhet baba për herë të tretë, na prezanton me vajzën e vogël". Top Channel (in Albanian). 20 January 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Florjan Binaj: Unë jam Rama që njerëzit nuk shohin, jam ai që Rama do t'ja fshehë publikut". Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Albanian Film Production 2015–2017". Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ↑ "Alive (2009) – Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Who is Florian Binaj, the candidate supported by the DP for Tirana?". Politiko. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Florjan Binaj announces candidacy for mayor of Tirana". Hashtag.al. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Berisha: Florjan Binaj është kandidati i PD për Bashkinë e Tiranës" [Berisha: Florjan Binaj is the PD candidate for Tirana Municipality]. Euronews Albania (in Albanian). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ "Partia e Lirisë mbështet kandidaturën e Binajt" [Freedom Party supports Binaj's candidacy]. Politiko (in Albanian). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ "Partia Mundësia e Shehajt i bashkohet partive opozitare në mbështetje të Florjan Binajt për Tiranën" [Shehaj's Opportunity Party joins opposition parties in supporting Florjan Binaj for Tirana]. Syri.net (in Albanian). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ↑ ""Lëvizja Shqipëria Bëhet" mbështesim kandidaturën e Florjan Binajt" [Albania Becomes Movement supports Florjan Binaj's candidacy]. Dosja.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ "Florjan Binaj kandidat për zgjedhjet në Bashkinë e Tiranës, "Nisma Thurje" del në mbështetje të tij: Do t'i japë shpresë kryeqytetit" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ Booth, William; Sinoruka, Fjori (30 October 2025). "Can a sense of humor get Albania into the E.U.?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "Constitutional Court Suspends Tirana Elections Pending Veliaj's Appeal". Euronews Albania. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- ↑ "'Unë do të kandidoj kurdo që të mbahen zgjedhjet'/ Florjan Binaj reagon pas vendimit të GjK" ['I will run whenever elections are held'/ Florjan Binaj reacts to the decision of the Constitutional Court]. Syri.net (in Albanian). 3 November 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
- ↑ "Independent candidate vows to run again after court ruling". Gazeta Tema. 3 November 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2026.