The latest statements by Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, regarding the protests have sparked debate in public opinion. He has interpreted them as being influenced by social networks and by what he describes as “collective hysteria,” implying that they often also contain elements of attention-seeking. In the same vein, Rama also used irony about the participation of citizens from Kosovo and North Macedonia, opening discussions about how inter-Albanian solidarity is viewed and what its limits are in public and political debates.
Regarding this issue, publicist Lis Bukuroca spoke to “Bota sot,” saying that Rama’s irony has a clear aim: to divert attention from the protest taking place in Tirana.
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According to Bukuroca, after the revolt raised against him, Rama needs a division with Albanians outside Albania in order to sustain himself politically.
“I think Edi Rama’s irony toward Albanians from Kosovo and North Macedonia had a clear political purpose: to relativize the protest and shift the focus from the real dissatisfaction within Albania to Albanians outside it.
So his message was: the problem does not lie with governance, but with perceptions, collective emotions and external influences. He needs a division, prejudice against Albanians outside, in order to survive inside.
This is a strategy in politics: when internal dissatisfaction grows, a narrative is created that the revolt is being artificially inflated by social networks, by propaganda or by external actors.”
The publicist also argues that with this approach, the prime minister is belittling both the protesters and the Albanians living in other Albanian lands.
He stresses that Albanians’ interest in developments in Tirana is something entirely natural and fully legitimate.
“Yes, I think that with this approach Rama is underestimating not only the protesters, but also the legitimate right of Albanians from Kosovo and other Albanian lands to express solidarity and concern over developments in Albania.
Albania is not simply an administrative state for Albanians beyond its borders; it also carries symbolic, national and emotional weight. For this reason, the interest of Albanians outside Albania in what happens in Tirana is natural and legitimate.”
According to Bukuroca, the mockery and irony used by Rama are not accidental, but reflect more his difficult political position than the reality of the protesters.
In conclusion, he said that the prime minister is in a grave situation because of this popular revolt.
“I do not think the mockery and sarcasm directed at them are accidental. They are part of an effort to invalidate the criticism and present the dissatisfaction as exaggerated or imported.
But the reality is different: the main source of the revolt does not come from outside Albania, but from within it; from accumulated dissatisfaction over living standards, the lack of transparency, the obstruction of justice, corruption, tenders and the crisis of trust in institutions.
Therefore, Rama’s reaction says more about his difficult political position than about the protesters. When power begins to replace argument with irony and sarcasm, this often shows difficulty in confronting the core of the problem.
He is giving lectures and not dealing with the problem! Rama is in deep trouble! It shows as soon as he opens his mouth!” Lis Bukuroca concluded to “Bota sot.”
