Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again reacted to the ongoing protests taking place daily in Tirana for the past month, where thousands of citizens have been demanding his resignation. In a Facebook post, the head of government stated that citizens have the right to protest and express dissatisfaction, but drew a distinction between ordinary protesters and those he claims are politically exploiting the demonstrations.
In his response, Rama used harsh language against the organisers and political supporters of the protests, describing them as “dangerous socio-political remnants” and “the darkest representation of political alternatives of the past 35 years.” He said that what he called a “distorted core” had brought together “angry failures” and individuals who “give lessons they themselves do not have,” arguing that such actors do not represent the real concerns of citizens.
At the same time, Rama emphasised that the grievances of protesters should be heard and treated seriously, stating that they will be analysed with “attention and humility.” He added that public concerns will be used as input to strengthen government efforts toward Albania’s goal of joining the European Union by 2030.
Rama also predicted that the governing majority would come out stronger from the current situation, while those he accused of misusing the protests for political purposes would ultimately fail.