Cristina Guarda Speaks Live in Tirana: EU Green MEP Addresses Massive Protest on Main Boulevard for Democracy, Human Rights & Environment

 Green Party MEP Cristina Guarda speaks in Tirana during the thirtieth civic demonstration, praising the peaceful participation of Albanian citizens in defense of the environment, human rights, and democratic values.

Italian Member of the European Parliament Cristina Guarda has praised the growing civic protest movement in Albania, describing the peaceful demonstrations in Tirana as a powerful expression of public engagement in defense of nature, human rights, and democratic values. Speaking during her visit to the Albanian capital, the Green Group lawmaker said she was deeply impressed by the broad participation of citizens from different generations and backgrounds who gathered peacefully to make their voices heard. Guarda attended the 30th consecutive civic protest held in Tirana, where thousands of demonstrators continued their calls for greater environmental protection, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights. According to the MEP, the protests initially attracted the attention of the Green Group in the European Parliament because of their environmental focus, but it soon became clear that the movement reflected broader concerns affecting Albanian society. 

She explained that her visit aimed to gain a firsthand understanding of developments in the country by meeting citizens, representatives of civil society, and political actors. Guarda said the delegation wanted to go beyond observing the protests themselves and instead engage directly with the people involved in order to better understand the challenges facing Albania today. Reflecting on the demonstration, she highlighted the peaceful nature of the gathering and the diversity of those taking part, noting that elderly people, young people, children, and entire families were united by a common purpose. She said this level of civic participation sent a strong message not only within Albania but also across Europe, where democratic freedoms and legal protections are sometimes taken for granted. Guarda emphasized that seeing citizens stand together to defend nature and human rights carried significant meaning and demonstrated the importance of active civic engagement in protecting democratic values. Her participation in the Tirana protest marks another sign of growing international attention toward Albania's ongoing civic movement, which has evolved from environmental concerns into a wider platform advocating for transparency, accountability, and the protection of democratic rights.