FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The lawyer gave a powerful speech at the 18th civic protest, as participants demanded the removal of the government, an end to impunity, and a "new Albania"...
The 18th citizen protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office continued this Saturday with the participation of activists, citizens and public figures who support the movement initially launched against the project in Zvërnec and which has now transformed into a broader cause against the government and the entire political class.
Among the participants who joined the protest was lawyer Romeo Kara, who gave a strong-toned speech, calling the movement a historic moment for unrepresented citizens disillusioned with politics.
" There is nothing stronger, nothing more winning than an idea whose time has come. I am fully convinced that the time has come for this people to seek and gain the dignity lost in 10 years ," Kara declared amid applause and cheers from protesters.
According to him, the protest represents the voice of citizens who have felt abandoned by institutions and defenseless in the face of the connections between politics and crime for years.
" This is the tribune of the people who have been unrepresented until now. Abandoned by the state, disrespected, only attacked in the most immoral way by crime and by the alliance of politics with crime ," the lawyer said.
He emphasized that no political organization or party can be stronger than a movement born from civic awareness and the desire for freedom.
" There is no stronger organization than one that is driven by the spirit of a people who love freedom. Who are already aware that there is no other way to live ," said Kara.
Addressing the protesters, he called for resistance and unity beyond political beliefs.
" I think we should never tire of demanding our rights, being together despite political divisions, but united by the spirit of dignity and the spirit of a free Albania. Never retreat from your rights! ", he declared.
At the end of his speech, Kara described the protest as a new chapter in the country's political history.
" You are writing a new page of Albania's history here. You are writing the future and I am sure that in a short time you will feel the taste of victory. Every day that we are together is a victory ," he said.
Today's rally was also accompanied by other speeches by citizens, including a cancer patient who declared that he would stand day and night in front of the Prime Minister's Office until the voices of the protesters are heard, as well as pensioners who raised concerns about the low level of pensions, the country's depopulation, and the economic situation.
Meanwhile, protesters continued to articulate demands for the government's resignation, the protection of public assets, and the building of a new political model. "Rama go away," "Rama in prison," "Berisha in prison," "New Albania," and "Your end has come" were some of the chants that dominated today's protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office.
Zegjine Çaushi, a member of parliament for the Socialist Party, is one of the socialist legislators who has reacted to the protest, which is in its 18th day, as thousands of citizens peacefully demand the removal of Edi Rama as Prime Minister.
But it seems that the protesters responded to Rama's lawmaker today with an ironic banner.
"Zegjine, Zegjine, find out how many kids we are," was one of the banners placed on an improvised fence where some kids who have 'come down' to Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard from the Kelmendi area are standing.
The SP MP has become a meme on social media on more than one occasion due to her gaffes in the Assembly. Even earlier, protesters have mocked Çaushi, recalling her gaffes in parliament, while a banner read "3,700,514,8,505 protesters...", mocking her statements and efforts to minimize citizen participation.
Citizens continue to strike with messages in protest. Every day there are new banners, new memes, strong messages that keep this protest alive.
Two banners were striking today. In one, a citizen exposes the vetting scammers. In another, they denounce Shkëlzen Berisha's connections with Ilir Shtuf, who was targeted by SPAK.
Not only the "parade of flamingos", but also a herd of goats, attracted the attention of thousands of protesters on the 'Martyrs of the Nation' boulevard, who on the 18th day of the protest are demanding the removal of Edi Rama as prime minister.
The goats were brought from Kelmendi, while with an improvised fence, they are being moved by the protesters, who thought they wanted to give another message to the Prime Minister.
"We are strategic protesters" is one of the banners standing next to the goat fence, while Prime Minister Edi Rama seems to be mocking strategic investors.
"We came to protect the mountains before the government takes them from us" is another message addressed to Rama and related to the Mountains package, a project launched by the government, but which protesters are demanding its cancellation.
"We do not aspire to politics, we only want water in the river", "Goats join the flamingos", are other messages addressed to the Prime Minister from the goat fence.
Citizens, activists and supporters of the movement for a "New Albania" gathered again this Saturday in front of the Prime Minister's Office building, in the 18th consecutive protest against the Albanian government and political class.
What began weeks ago as a reaction against the controversial project in Zvërnec has now turned into a broader civic movement, which openly expresses dissatisfaction with the way of governance, corruption, mass emigration, and the crisis of political representation in the country.
Today's protest was once again dominated by slogans against Prime Minister Edi Rama and traditional political leaders. "Rama go away," "Rama in prison," "Berisha in prison," "Your end has come," and "A new Albania" were the most heard slogans among the protesters gathered in front of the government headquarters.
Organizers consider the movement a civic reaction beyond party divisions, arguing that Albania needs a new political and institutional model, away from the figures that have dominated the country's political life over the past few decades.
Among the citizens who spoke was a pensioner, whose statements attracted the attention of those present.
" I am identifying myself with the patronageists. I am starting this protest and saying: cancel the thefts ," he told the protesters.
The elderly man also called on his peers to join the protest.
" I call on pensioners to come out to support this protest, because it can't get any worse ," he said.
Following his speech, the pensioner also used an ironic statement addressed to the prime minister.
" I'm calling on a friend of mine to find me a veterinarian, to give him medicine so he can go away, " he said, causing reactions among the protesters present.
The protest is taking place under increased security measures, while organizers have warned that the rallies will continue in the coming days, insisting that their goal is to build a civic movement that demands profound political and institutional change in the country.
Several thousand citizens continued their protest against the political caste in the country today, while calling on Edi Rama to resign from the post of Prime Minister. On the 18th day of the civic protest, there were no shortage of spicy banners, but also a "parade" of dozens of young people holding flamingos in their hands, which have become a symbol of what is being considered the youth revolution.
Several dozen young people held flamingos in their hands, creating a formation, thus adding a new element to the protest.
This was the moment when protesters greeted in an original way the European Parliament's amendment for Albania regarding the protection of protected areas and the repeal of the 2024 law.
Meanwhile, from the improvised podium, citizens were asked to join the protest until Edi Rama's departure as Prime Minister.
"Rama in prison, Berisha in prison", "Rama resign", "Your end has come", are now the most frequent cries of the protesters.
Meanwhile, renowned actor Mehdi Malkaj chose to give an encouraging message to the protesters in front of the Prime Minister's Office.
"Grandparents are the emotional and historical memory of a people. For love I give my life, for the homeland I give love!" said Malkaj, a message that was received with ovations.
Actor Mehdi Malkaj has once again become part of the citizens' protest against the old political caste. In his speech before the Prime Minister's Office, Malkaj gave a strong message.
"I give my life for love, but I give love for the homeland!" said Malkaj, who added that grandparents are the emotional and historical memory of a people.
On the other hand, one of the activists, Luçiana Kokaj, in her speech said that today we will also raise our voices for grandparents and pensioners, the most oppressed group by this system.
"We thought that today we would raise our voices for our grandparents, the class that this system has treated in the worst possible way. In our families, there is not a grandfather who lives with dignity on his pension. He depends on his children to give money from exile for medicine. So today was a very beautiful call to take the grandfather to the protest. Today we will raise our voices very loudly for all our grandparents. So that their hard work is rewarded. Rama resign!" , she said.
For 18 days, citizens have been articulating issues in various economic and social fields. Today, one of the protesters said that he is in this protest because he has nowhere to send his children, as there is no circus, theater, or cultural center, and that culture is at its worst.
The citizen said that Edi Rama is thinking about where he will escape to and that they should take him to political asylum.
"In recent days, there have been so many of us that Rama has not only considered resigning, but is also thinking about where he will escape to. Albania deserves more than corruption and property theft."
"I am here because art and culture are at their worst. There is no parent who does not think about where they will take their children. The circus was destroyed, the National Theater collapsed, we have no cultural centers. So today I call on all citizens to stand up and unite, to take Rama to political asylum," he said.
Like every other day, today's protest was accompanied by banners and memes...
The 18th protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama and the old political caste has begun. Protesters gathered in the center of Tirana and began marching towards the Prime Minister's Office building, chanting "Rama, resign."
The rally today began at 7:00 PM at Skanderbeg Square, after the organizers changed the schedule. During the march, protesters were heard chanting: "Edi Rama, resign," "The homeland is not for sale," as well as other slogans against the political class.
Like every other day, today's protest was accompanied by banners and memes, regarding the resignation of the prime minister and the problems in the country.
After the rally in the center of the capital, protesters are expected to march on the main streets of Tirana.
It is worth noting that on other days, similar demonstrations were held in several other cities in the country, including Vlora, Durrës, Shkodra and Pogradec. Supportive rallies were also held by Albanian communities abroad.
E kuptoj qe Rama te largohet, po Berisha nga ku te largohet?