FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The civic protests that have entered their 30th day have also become part of the debate in the studio of the "Off the Record" show on A2 CNN, where political scientist Afrim Krasniqi and the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, clashed over the protesters' demands and the government's response.
Krasniqi publicly asked the minister to convey to Prime Minister Edi Rama the main demand of the protesters, resignation, emphasizing that in a democracy, resignation is not shameful.
" We are on the 30th day of the protest and we have comments on it, but no official act to respond to the concerns of the protesters. Tell the prime minister. Tell him that it is not shameful to resign. The fate of this country has never depended on one person and far be it from depending on one person ," Krasniqi said.
Minister Blendi Gonxhja stated that he recognizes the institution of resignation, but emphasized that in the case of Prime Minister Rama, such an action is not justified.
" I have shown that I know the institution of resignation. I don't have to tell the prime minister if it is not justified. It would be a great harm to the country. Vision is very important sometimes ," said Gonxha.
The debate also focused on the way the majority is treating the protesters. Krasniqi accused the government of labeling protest participants, while, according to him, the Socialist Party has had people with serious precedents in its ranks.
" We only have one strategy: find a person, label them, attack them, denigrate them. For the protesters, a five-minute biography is made, while we have had criminals, traffickers and people in Parliament who in no serious country would be part of political decision-making. To say that the government deserves that people protest peacefully is utter nonsense ," declared the political scientist.
On the other hand, Gonxha defended the government's position, arguing that the fact that protests are taking place freely is an indicator of the democratic standards that, according to him, Albania has achieved.
" Of course there is merit. At the time when we were protesting, Afrim, you could have been killed. It is the merit of governments when there is democracy of this level. What we see today, that people are protesting and having carnivals, is the merit of all of us. We have reached a standard where you can protest freely ," the minister replied.
The debate
Krasniqi: We are on the 30th day of the protest and we have comments on it, but no official act to respond to the concerns of the protesters. We only have: find a person, label him, attack him, denigrate him. A five-minute biography is made for the protesters, while we have had criminals, traffickers and people in Parliament who in no serious country would be part of political decision-making. To say that the government deserves that people protest peacefully is utter nonsense.
Gonxha: Absolutely. At the time when we were both protesting, Afrim, you could have been killed. There is merit.
Krasniqi : It's not your merit, it's the time's.
Gonxhja: It is the merit of governments when there is democracy of this level. It is the merit of Albania and all of us. We have reached a standard where you can protest.
Krasniqi: This is not a defense for the mayor, it is an insult to society.
Krasniqi: So you can resign. This is good news. Can the government resign?
Gonxha: I have shown that I am familiar with the institution of resignation.
Krasniqi: Tell the Prime Minister too.
Gonxha: I don't have to tell him unless it's justified.
Krasniqi: Tell them that it's not shameful to resign.
Gonxha: It would be a great loss for the country. Those who have nothing to lose say "great job"...
Krasniqi: The fate of this country has never depended on one person and far be it from depending on one person.
Gonxha: Vision is very important sometimes...
Vizioni i Gonxhes eshte vetem pangpshmeria e pergjithshme!