In the heart of Albania’s northern Alps, the picturesque tourist village of Theth witnessed dramatic scenes as residents took to the streets to defend their livelihoods. For nearly two hours, locals blocked the main entrance bridge in protest of a government operation aimed at demolishing 40 buildings deemed illegal.
The protest quickly escalated into tense confrontations between villagers and police forces. Residents described the operation as an “urbanistic massacre” unfolding at the peak of the tourism season — a critical time for the local economy. They warned that such aggressive interventions could cripple tourism and accelerate economic decline in one of Albania’s most promising regions.
Joining the protest was MP Gerta Bardeli, who clashed sharply with police on the scene. The government’s demolition campaign came on the heels of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public denunciation of the structures, labeling them as illegal constructions and framing the intervention as a necessary step to “heal” Theth.
But many on the ground see it differently.
To them, this is not about legality or planning — it’s about survival. In a country already bleeding from mass emigration, where hundreds of Albanians leave daily in search of real opportunities in European countries, such forceful actions feel less like reform and more like sabotage. With limited job prospects, poor infrastructure, and now the looming threat of losing even their homes and businesses, residents of Theth and similar rural areas are left with few options but to abandon their homeland.
Is this just about building permits, or is it part of a broader pattern — one that, intentionally or not, is pushing Albanians out of their own country?
As institutions continue to act without meaningful dialogue, and as entire communities are shaken by decisions made far from their realities, the question grows louder: Is this how Albania plans to preserve its future — by hollowing out its villages and sending its people abroad?