FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
On the 13th day of protests, the prime minister gathered thousands of socialists in Italy Square. Instead of a celebration of the history of the Socialist Party, the event was dominated by responses to the protesters, justifications for the government, and open defiance of citizens in the streets.
The 35th anniversary of the Socialist Party was supposed to be a day of celebration for socialists. A day to remember the founders, the history, the victories and the figures who have built the Albanian left over three and a half decades. But what happened in Italy Square had very little of the atmosphere of an anniversary and much more of a demonstration of political strength in the face of the protest that has been challenging the government for 13 days.
The very way the event was organized showed that the focus was not on the history of the Socialist Party. MPs, political leaders and branch leaders had been working for days to bring as many people as possible to Tirana. Buses were organized from the regions, while there were also complaints from the administration about the mandatory participation.
In the end, the square was filled. But the question that remained unanswered was whether the Socialists had gathered to celebrate the party's 35th anniversary or to show the protesters that Edi Rama still has his crowd.
The program of the event also confirmed this. After a short documentary about Fatos Nano, Blendi Klosi took the stage just to introduce the prime minister. Then, for more than an hour, the stage belonged only to Edi Rama. There were no speeches from historical figures, no messages from old socialists, no debate on the party's journey. It was a long monologue by the prime minister.
And not coincidentally, most of his speech was dedicated to the protest. Rama attempted to convince the socialists that the revolt was being fueled by social media and distorted information.
" If I were a citizen who is informed by social networks, hearing and seeing the various half-truths blown up every minute in the whirlpools of channels that have come out of bed with fury and all kinds of videos and photos produced to feed anger, dead pelicans, skyscrapers over the Sazan lagoon, I would have gone out onto the boulevard, terrified. It would seem to me too that this, cooked up behind the backs of the people, united continent by continent to save my country ," he said.
The prime minister then began to release his environmental balance sheet, in an attempt to counter protesters' accusations that he was damaging protected areas.
" Many of those on the boulevard or who support them on social media are too young to remember the Tirana of 25 years ago. Over 90 percent of the trees they see on the streets of Tirana were planted by us. When I left the Municipality, I left behind 55 thousand decorative tree roots. 123 thousand tons of concrete were removed from the slopes of Lana alone ," Rama declared.
At another point, he listed his government's decisions on the environment, mentioning the ban on deforestation, the ban on the import of waste, the ban on hunting, and the cancellation of hydroelectric power plants in Valbona e Vjosa.
But while the prime minister was counting trees, hectares, and canceled contracts, the protesters had only one call: "Rama, go away." In the face of this call, Rama seems to have used the socialists and the SP party as a shield.
At the end of his speech, Rama switched from defense to challenge. He admitted he was wrong, but hinted that he has no intention of changing course.
" I have not done everything well. I have been wrong more than once. Although I have never wanted to take revenge on anyone, it is very likely that I have done it unintentionally or with a wrong assessment. I will give the Socialist Party without reservation everything that is required of a leader and together with the SP we will take Albania to the peak where the sun rises from the west ," he said.
But the most significant statement was the one with which he closed any possibility of dialogue with the protesters: " I have no negotiations with you and I do not negotiate either the program or the contract with those who voted for me. "
Thus, the 35th anniversary of the Socialist Party ended far from the atmosphere of a traditional celebration. Instead of the party's history, the focus was on the political battle of the day. Instead of reflection, a demonstration of strength. And instead of a birthday, an attempt by Edi Rama to use the party as a savior in the face of the greatest civic revolt it has faced in recent years.
Abtimitingu i vućićit. Nuk ju shpëtojnë dot as vućići, o Ramo e Saleh!