Belgian Newspaper De Standaard Calls Marjana Koçeku the “Face of Albania’s Revolution”
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Marjana Koçeku, a 25-year-old independent Albanian MP who left the Socialist parliamentary group and voiced support for student protests demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, has been profiled by Belgian newspaper De Standaard in a report published on October 26, 2026.
Journalist Jasper Abrahams portrays Koçeku as the “face of the Albanian revolution,” highlighting her journey from the mountains of Dukagjin to parliament and her decision to break with the ruling majority.
According to the newspaper, young protesters have rejected traditional political hierarchies, yet Koçeku has earned their respect without claiming leadership of the movement. She says her departure from the Socialist group was a personal decision, taken without consulting either her family or Rama.
Her background also features prominently in the report. Koçeku recalls growing up in a remote mountain area, describing a childhood shaped by hardship and a close connection to nature. Her environmental activism, including efforts to protect the Drin River through the “Neomalësorja” initiative, helped draw her into politics.
She says conflicts over government environmental policies and protected areas eventually convinced her that political disengagement was no longer an option.
Addressing Rama’s recent calls for dialogue with protesters, Koçeku argues that the opportunity for negotiations has passed. “He has had 13 years for this. No, now is no longer the time for dialogue. Now is the time for resignation,” she told De Standaard.
She also accused police of using disproportionate force during demonstrations, alleging that officers used rubber batons and that some operated without visible identification. These claims were presented as her account of events.
Despite the attention surrounding her role, Koçeku insists she does not seek to lead the student movement. Instead, she says her aim is to amplify protesters’ demands through parliament and other channels.
The report presents her story against a backdrop of growing public distrust in established political parties and a youth movement determined to pursue change without becoming subordinate to traditional political structures.
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