FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
German MEP Jutta Paulus participated in the 30th protest held in front of the Prime Minister's Office, where she expressed her support for Albanian citizens and spoke about the protection of nature, the European integration process, and a communication that, according to her, she had with Prime Minister Edi Rama.
In her speech, Paulus congratulated the protesters for their resistance, emphasizing that Albania's natural resources should not be destroyed for private interests and that the voice of citizens will be conveyed to European institutions.
"Albanian nature is very beautiful and wonderful and it is so beautiful to see you fighting for nature, for flamingos and against the oligarchs who want to destroy that nature. We are here to support you in this battle and we will convey your voice to Brussels and we will say that Albania is not for sale, nature is not for sale!" said Paulus.
The MEP further stated that, in her opinion, if Albania aims for membership in the European Union, the government must change laws that, in her opinion, favor narrow economic interests.
"You are fighting for your country, but also for your rights, to be heard. Because this is in European laws. If Albania is going to join the EU, which you deserve so much, then your government must change the law, must abolish the law that they have changed for the billionaires and that they did not do for the good of Albanians, but only for their pockets and their friends! Thank you for this protest even though the government seeks to intimidate you and take away your rights."
At the end of her speech, Paulus stated that she had received an email from Prime Minister Edi Rama, through which, she said, she was asked not to support an amendment in the European Parliament. She said that the amendment was voted despite this request.
"Tineke mentioned the resolution asking for a moratorium. I received an email from Edi Rama telling me not to vote for an amendment, but of course we voted for that amendment because European law must be in force and it is not for sale either! Continue your battle, we will do our best to support your fight in Brussels. Albanians deserve more than their government," she concluded.
The 30th anti-government protest was also joined by Dutch MEP Tineke Strik, who, from the podium in front of the Prime Minister's Office, expressed her support for Albanian citizens and called on them to continue the mobilization.
In her speech, Strik declared that the voices of the protesters will not remain only in the square, but will also be heard in European institutions, promising to support their cause in Brussels.
"Solidarity with the Albanian people who are protesting. Continue with the mobilization in protest, your voice will also be expressed in Brussels. We will fight for the same values as the Albanians, for democracy," she said.
The MEP emphasized that the protest is a clear sign that citizens do not accept the restriction of fundamental freedoms and rights, while demanding that the government be more responsive to the voice of citizens.
"This shows that the Albanian people do not accept the denial of the right to speech and that the government should listen to citizens and not rich people," said Tineke Strik.
Her speech was greeted with applause from the protesters, while her participation in the rally was considered by the organizers as a signal of support from the MEPs present in Tirana.
After clashing with guards at the Polytechnic University of Tirana building, protesters managed to get the banner "The end has come for you".
The giant banner was unfurled at the start of the protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office and was removed a few minutes later. This further irritated the protesters, who surrounded the Polytechnic.
After arriving near the building, the protesters demanded clarification about the location of the banner and called for it to be returned. Some of them then entered the university premises, insisting that the banner had been taken unfairly and should be returned.
Moments of tension arose between protesters and security guards of the Polytechnic University during the entry into the building. There were verbal arguments and clashes due to the protesters' attempts to enter the interior, while the guards tried to prevent their entry.
Even during these moments, the protesters did not stop their calls against the government. They continuously chanted "Rama out" and "Resign", reiterating their demand for the removal of Prime Minister Edi Rama and describing the protest as a continuation of citizen pressure on the government.
The 30th anti-government protest continued this Monday in front of the Prime Minister's Office building, while some of the protesters returned to the Polytechnic University to retrieve the banner that was removed by security guards.
After clashing with security forces, citizens managed to reclaim the banner with the inscription "The end has come for you! Albania is not for sale", which they warned they would put back up.
Meanwhile, the rest of the protesters remained in front of the Prime Minister's Office, where the main speeches of the rally were delivered.
Among them was journalist Klevin Muka, who took to the podium with an empty water can in his hand, using it as a symbol of the lack of one of the most basic services in the country.
"Here I am with a symbol, with an empty water can. I want to give an answer to those who ask why you are protesting. Does the expression 'the water has come' remind you of anything? We have been wandering around for 36 years with cans in our hands to fill up with water, when we are the second country in Europe for water resources. How incompetent has this political caste been in providing essential things? After 36 years, we are still talking about drinking water," he said.
He then shifted his focus to fuel prices, accusing the political class of corruption and mismanagement.
"Therefore, it is very important to say enough is enough to those who have drunk the blood of this nation by not guaranteeing the most basic things like drinking water, while we are the only country in the region that has oil resources and sources and the country that has the most expensive oil in the region because they steal from us everywhere! Our blood, the blood of martyrs, is not sold for a salary!" , the journalist said.
At the end of his speech, Muka called on citizens not to withdraw from the protest, linking it to the future of the younger generations.
"Maybe you will have one more plate on the table, a better car, but nothing makes sense when you don't have an identity! And one last message, this is where history is divided. If our children will be citizens of the world, the square here will determine it! For those who ask when the protests will end, they will end when we win here!", he declared.
Activist Edison Lika also took the floor, saying that the protest has shaken the political system built over the years.
"The protest struck at the heart of the old system. It dealt a blow to the political establishment, the captive media, and the oligarchs who have kept it in power," he said.
This Monday's protest marked the 30th consecutive day of civic mobilization, while the organizers' main demand remains the resignation and investigation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. After speeches in front of the Prime Minister's Office, the protesters are expected to continue marching through the main streets of the capital.
Moments of tension between protesters and building guards, as participants continued to chant "Rama, go away" and "Resign."
The 30th protest against the government took another turn this evening, with protesters surrounding the Polytechnic University of Tirana, demanding the return of a banner that, according to them, had been removed earlier by State Police officers.
After arriving near the building, the protesters demanded clarification about the location of the banner and called for it to be returned. Some of them then entered the university premises, insisting that the banner had been taken unfairly and should be returned.
Moments of tension arose between protesters and security guards of the Polytechnic University during the entry into the building. There were verbal arguments and clashes due to the protesters' attempts to enter the interior, while the guards tried to prevent their entry.
Even during these moments, the protesters did not stop their calls against the government. They continuously chanted "Rama out" and "Resign", reiterating their demand for the removal of Prime Minister Edi Rama and describing the protest as a continuation of citizen pressure on the government.
Irony, satire, and accusations against the government were reflected in dozens of banners, which became one of the most prominent elements of the 30th anti-government protest.
The 30th anti-government protest was not only characterized by the march and speeches in front of the Prime Minister's Office, but also by the banners held by citizens, which conveyed direct messages, irony, and strong accusations against Edi Rama's government.
After gathering in Skanderbeg Square, the protesters marched towards the Prime Minister's Office building, where they delivered their next speeches, and then continued their march through the main streets of Tirana. But this time, it was the banners that attracted more attention than anything else.
One of the strongest messages was displayed by students, who hung a giant banner on a building with the inscription "Students: The end is near!!", accompanied by the slogan in English "Albania is not for sale", opposing projects that, according to them, are alienating public property and assets.
Direct accusations against the government were also contained in the banner, which listed, one after the other, the words "Arrogance", "Nepotism", "Corruption", "PPP", "Health captured", "Poverty" and "Justice captured", while at its center was the dominant cry: "Enough, resign!"
Another banner targeted the lack of transparency over investments in the country, with the message: "Hidden owners? Not in Albania. Investments yes, unclear ownership no." Through it, protesters demanded the identification of the beneficial owners of strategic projects and opposed the use of companies with hidden ownership.
There was no shortage of irony towards the prime minister either. A banner read : "Rama's problem is not corruption. Rama's problem is the protesters," ironically, according to the organizers, the way the government is treating citizens who take to the streets.
Another message addressed the political debate of recent days: "13 names do not unite us. Albania unites us," while another banner read: "We are not 13. We are thousands," in an attempt to emphasize that the protest, according to the organizers, does not represent a small group of individuals, but a broader civic dissatisfaction.
A poster titled "Surrel's Don Quixote and Sali Pança" was also presented with political humor, where Edi Rama and Sali Berisha were depicted as characters inspired by the novel "Don Quixote", accompanied by the ironic caption "A bestseller of Albanian literature".
Another banner compared the protest to a symbolic match: "Match No. 30 - Alliance of New Albania against Alliance of Rama's Stinks", while below it was written that the battle was taking place "for freedom, dignity and the future of Albania", in the face of, according to the protesters, "power, corruption and the destruction of Albania".
There was also no shortage of messages in English, addressed to European institutions. One of them read: "EU, I didn't know you welcomed dictators. Is this your values?", while another read: "30 Days. No Fear. No Silence. Only Democracy", referring to the fact that the protest has entered its 30th day and, according to the organizers, will continue until their demands are met.
Another banner attacked the way public funds were distributed, with the message: "Lubia swallowed millions in tunnels and concrete, our education is languishing!", accusing the government of favoring infrastructure projects at the expense of education.
Concrete political demands also appeared among the banners, such as the resignation of the prime minister, the creation of a technical government, and the repeal of several laws approved by the majority, while the protest then continued with a march on the main streets of the capital.
Activist Edison Lika delivered his speech during the 30th consecutive protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office, where he stated that the protesters' demand remains unchanged from day one: the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
During his speech, Lika stated that the protest has managed to unite citizens around a common message, while emphasizing that, according to him, this movement has hit the structures that have supported the government.
"Today we are on the 30th day of the extraordinary protest that Albania has seen in 36 years. Today, just like on the first day, we demand RESIGNATION. If there is another sentence that has united this protest, it has been the sentence that struck right at the heart of the entire old system: "Rama in prison, Berisha in prison."
"This movement has dealt a blow to the political establishment, it has dealt a blow to the oligarchy, the captive media, and the internationals who have thrown and kept this palazzo in power ," he said.
Citizens have returned to "Skënderbej" Square on the 30th day of the anti-government protest, continuing their mobilization against the government with a march towards the Prime Minister's Office.
As in previous days, protesters first gathered in the center of Tirana and then marched along the "Martyrs of the Nation" boulevard, where they stopped in front of the Prime Minister's Office building. During the march, participants also addressed fans gathered in the "Fan Zone" area, calling on them to join the protest.
Also participating in today's protest are five MEPs: Tineke Strik, Daniel Freund, Cristina Guarda, Jutta Paulus and Anna Strolenberg, coming from Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.
Meanwhile, meetings have been held between the protest coordination groups throughout the day, while students are expected to appear with a surprise banner on the 30th day of the rally.
This time too, the protesters have improvised a podium in front of the Prime Minister's Office building, where the next speeches and political messages are expected to be held.
The protest comes just hours after the State Police prosecuted 31 people for the events of the previous day's protest. According to the police, they are accused of organizing and participating in illegal gatherings, disturbing public order and peace, and obstructing the movement of vehicles.
Marshimi i 30-të i protestës para Kryeministrisë ka nisur, ku qytetarë dhe aktivistë janë mbledhur për të kërkuar dorëheqjen e kryeministrit Edi Rama.
Ka nisur marshimi i 30-të i protestës para godinës së Kryeministrisë në Tiranë, ku dhjetëra qytetarë janë mbledhur për të kërkuar dorëheqjen e kryeministrit Edi Rama dhe largimin e qeverisë.
Protestuesit marshuan me pankarta dhe flamuj kombëtarë, ndërsa gjatë tubimit u dëgjuan thirrje kundër qeverisë dhe kërkesa për ndryshime politike. Ata shprehën pakënaqësinë për situatën ekonomike, korrupsionin dhe mënyrën e qeverisjes, duke kërkuar që kryeministri të japë dorëheqjen.
Gjatë protestës, organizatorët deklaruan se tubimet do të vijojnë deri në realizimin e kërkesave të tyre, ndërsa theksuan se qëllimi i tyre është të ushtrojnë presion qytetar ndaj institucioneve.
Gjatë marshimit, aktivisti Arben Kola u ndal te pjesëmarrja e përfaqësuesve ndërkombëtarë në protestë, duke bërë të ditur se në tubimin e kësaj të hëne ishin të pranishëm katër eurodeputetë nga vende të ndryshme të Bashkimit Europian.
“Edhe për fjalimet kërkojmë mirëkuptimin tuaj, pasi do të kemi edhe katër eurodeputetë që janë shtuar. Ata vijnë nga Holanda, Gjermania dhe Italia. Në të ardhmen do të kemi edhe senatorë dhe kongresmenë amerikanë”, tha Kola.
Më tej, ai deklaroi se çdo mbështetje ndërkombëtare që, sipas tij, do të kontribuonte në largimin e kryeministrit Edi Rama dhe qeverisë ishte e mirëpritur.
“Sot, edhe për fjalimet kërkojmë mirëkuptimin tuaj, pasi do të kemi edhe katër eurodeputetë që janë shtuar. Ata vijnë nga Holanda, Gjermania dhe Italia. Në të ardhmen do të kemi edhe senatorë dhe kongresmenë amerikanë. Kështu që kushdo që kontribuon për heqjen e Edi Ramës dhe të qeverisë së narkoshtetit është i mirëpritur. Dorëheqje!”, tha ai.
The 30th protest today gathered hundreds of citizens in Skanderbeg Square, where participants expressed their dissatisfaction with the government. They emphasized that the main reason for taking to the streets is the lack of hope for the future of children and the misgovernance of the country.
One of the protesters said that the main motive that brought him to the protest is his children, as he sees no prospects in Albania. He confessed that his daughter, although she has completed two schools, works in a private company where, according to him, she faces injustice and lack of appreciation.
"We have 1001 reasons to leave, the government only invests in criminal organizations, there is hypocrisy with the people. No one can swallow this kind of mockery. We will not allow any kind of government to sell the lands that have been protected with blood. We have created Europe and the Egyptian empires. I see no future for the children, my daughter has finished two schools and is employed in an oligarchic company, oppressed by the ignorant, with a menial job," he said.
Another citizen, interviewed during the protest, said that he has participated in all the rallies against the government and that this time he is protesting for the future of the younger generation. He said that he feels disappointed with the way taxes are administered and that the promises of European integration have failed.
"I've been to all the protests, I'm protesting for my children. We went to the pit, not to Europe!", said the citizen.
According to the protester, the country is in a deep crisis of trust, while the state, according to him, is no longer functioning in the service of citizens.
Lini një Përgjigje