Around two hours ago, Prime Minister Edi Rama once again reacted to the ongoing protests over the Zvërnec project, this time choosing to publicly respond to a commenter on his social media post.
While praising the commenter’s respectful tone, Rama addressed in detail the criticism regarding both the project itself and the government’s handling of the issue.
After the commenter wrote that a protest should not be judged based on whether the government likes it or not, Rama replied:
“I have never believed that protests should be pleasing to the government. The government does not merely claim that it followed the procedures; it possesses all the facts regarding this matter, and transparency is precisely about presenting those facts. Likewise, no one is seeking to shut down public debate. However, online violence, bullying people in the streets, and blocking the airport road are not debate—they are the suffocation of debate.”
Responding to another point made by the commenter, who argued that it was unfair to blame the protest for damaging the country’s image, Rama stated:
“Protesting is legitimate, and no one questions that. But amplifying falsehoods, lies, and fabrications—such as those that attracted worldwide attention and turned Albania into a stage for various political, ideological, and even religious agendas—is undoubtedly harmful to the country. Blocking the airport road also affects the tourism season and the economy. No one has placed all protesters in the same category, but this protest contains many different elements within it, and even disappointed protesters themselves spoke about a ‘manipulated crowd’ after last night’s events.”
The Prime Minister concluded by saying:
“I regret the concern this situation has caused, but this is the truth. In the end, there will be two real beneficiaries, and do you know why? Precisely because this government knows how to listen and learn lessons, while the Socialist Party stands on truths that ordinary people in this country know very well. Ultimately, the problem is not the explanations; the problem is that some people do not want to hear them and do not want to communicate calmly. Your case is very rare in the river of digital hostility.”
At the top of his post, Rama wrote:
“A DISTANT EXCHANGE WITH A PROTESTER”
“On every page, you will find what this protester wrote to me and how I responded. He thinks differently from me, yet he does not insult, accuse, or engage in online delusions.
RESPECT FOR ETHICS.”
