 |
An ironic commentary on Albania's never-ending democracy
There is something uniquely Albanian about discovering that democracy now comes with a waiting list.
For more than 57 consecutive days, thousands of citizens have gathered every evening in Tirana's main boulevard demanding one simple thing: the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. What began as protests against controversial development projects has evolved into a broader anti-corruption movement attracting international attention, with foreign media, activists and several European politicians following developments closely.
The government's answer?
"Please take a number. Your request will be processed in 2029."
It is perhaps one of the most innovative interpretations of democracy ever conceived. Citizens may protest every day, every night, every season—provided they understand that the actual response has already been scheduled three years in advance.
Imagine applying this logic elsewhere.
"Doctor, I think I'm having a heart attack."
"Excellent. We have booked your treatment for 2029."
Democracy, According to the Flamingos
Prime Minister Rama recently compared his supporters to flamingos—graceful birds representing optimism and trust—while describing many protesters as crows, ravens and magpies.
It is an extraordinary achievement in political communication.
Instead of discussing corruption allegations, institutional reforms or public dissatisfaction, Albania suddenly found itself in the middle of an ornithology conference.
Apparently, elections are no longer contests between political ideas.
They are bird migrations.
If you support the government, congratulations—you are an elegant flamingo.
If you disagree, you may discover overnight that you have evolved into a crow.
Charles Darwin would be impressed.
The Curious Mathematics of Albanian Politics
The Prime Minister argues that he has a contract with approximately 800,000 voters, not with those protesting outside his office.
Technically, every elected government indeed derives legitimacy from elections.
Politically, however, democracies are also expected to listen between elections—especially when thousands of citizens continue protesting for weeks.
Otherwise democracy becomes strangely similar to customer service:
"Thank you for your complaint.
Unfortunately your subscription to accountability has expired.
Please renew after the next election."
Europe's Most Persistent Student
Albania proudly presents itself as one of the European Union's most committed accession candidates.
Every Brussels report praises progress.
Every Brussels report also reminds Albania that corruption remains a serious challenge, institutions require strengthening, judicial independence must be protected and political polarization continues undermining democratic governance.
It is almost like a student who receives the same teacher's comment every year:
"Very promising. Could do much better if he stopped copying his own homework."
The European Commission notes that perceptions of corruption remain high, while Transparency International continues placing Albania among Europe's weakest performers in public-sector integrity.
Yet somehow the official narrative remains remarkably optimistic.
Everything is improving.
Except the corruption rankings.
Except public trust.
Except the protests.
Except... well... the protesters themselves.
The World's Largest Human Resources Department
One recurring criticism from opposition parties and civil society concerns the size of Albania's public administration.
Critics argue that state employment has increasingly become intertwined with electoral politics, creating incentives for political loyalty and raising questions about patronage. These allegations have featured repeatedly in Albania's polarized political debate, although interpretations differ sharply between government and opposition. European institutions have also repeatedly emphasized the importance of merit-based public administration and stronger institutional independence.
If employment and elections become too closely connected, citizens eventually stop asking:
"Who has the best program?"
They begin asking:
"Who signs my paycheck?"
That is no longer democratic competition.
It is human resources with ballot boxes.
The Protest Nobody Was Supposed to Notice
One of the most fascinating aspects of the current demonstrations is their persistence.
Day after day.
Week after week.
More than fifty-five days.
Even international outlets such as Reuters and the Associated Press have reported on the scale and longevity of the protests, which have broadened from environmental concerns into wider demands about governance, corruption and political accountability.
History suggests something simple.
Governments rarely worry about protests that disappear after one weekend.
They begin worrying when people keep returning.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Waiting Until 2029
Perhaps the Prime Minister is correct.
Perhaps democracy really means waiting until the next election.
But democracies also survive because governments remain politically accountable every single day—not only on election day.
Protests do not automatically prove that a government has lost legitimacy.
Nor do election victories automatically invalidate public dissent.
A healthy democracy is capable of holding both ideas simultaneously.
The real irony is that while protesters continue walking every evening beneath the Prime Minister's window, Albania continues walking toward Europe carrying exactly the same unresolved questions: corruption, institutional trust, political polarization and accountability.
If those questions are postponed until 2029, they will not disappear.
They will simply become older.
Just like the protesters.
And perhaps even the flamingos.