Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed the ongoing protests taking place in Tirana, describing them as a normal part of democratic life in a free country and stressing that they should not be viewed as a “test of strength.”
Rama stated that, regardless of the number of participants, protests should be judged by their purpose, cause, and demands. He added that the electoral majority won by the Socialist Party does not diminish the right of citizens to express different opinions.
When asked whether he had considered resigning, Rama replied:
“Perhaps taken out of context, it may seem as though I had a dilemma. It was not a dilemma, but a possibility in circumstances where the things I am here to accomplish become impossible. If we speak specifically, I have a contract with the Albanian people, and I will honor it until the very end. There is no question about that.”
The Prime Minister continued:
“What is the problem with protests taking place in relation to what I said? Protests are part of democratic life in a free country. Protests are not a measurement of strength, nor are they measured simply by numbers. Whether the numbers are small or large, they should be measured by their goals, their cause, and their demands.”
He emphasized that the fact that he and the Socialist Party were elected with a significant majority does not exclude the right of other citizens to hold different views and express them publicly.
“The fact that the Socialist Party and I were elected with a very significant majority does not change the fact that some people in this country have a different opinion and want to express it. These are two things that can coexist,” Rama said.
He further stressed that the existence of protests does not undermine the legitimacy of the government, arguing that different opinions and the freedom to express them are fundamental elements of a democratic society.
