After 73 Days of Protest, Osman Stafa Appeals to the Diaspora: This Is the Greatest World Cup in Our History—Albania Needs You More Than Ever!

At the protest held outside the Prime Minister’s Office, News24 journalist Osman Stafa addressed participants with a powerful speech that was interrupted several times by cheers from the crowd.

In his speech, Stafa focused on corruption, the population exodus and the difficulties facing the healthcare system, while urging citizens not to end their resistance.

The journalist said the 73 days of protest constitute the greatest and most beautiful “World Cup” in the country’s history because the battle is being waged for Albania and against the corruption that has brought it to its knees. According to him, the eagle has always been seen on the flag, but the protesters are the real eagles. He stressed that even if only one participant remains in the square, that person deserves to be honored, while calling on those present not to be swayed by words and to continue standing firm.

Stafa said the square was packed as never before and noted that August is usually a month for vacations, not protests. He asked what had been done to Albania that had forced Albanians to rise up for their country in the middle of summer, adding that the cup is now full and cannot hold any more.

According to him, a system has been created in which honesty is seen as madness: if you become a director or minister and do not steal, you are considered a fool. He said citizens want an Albania without corruption or theft, where there is no depopulation and where education and healthcare function properly.

The journalist described it as tragic for people to see their brother, father or mother at the end of their life without having access to cancer medication. He said there are around 3,000 people with cancer in Albania who lack palliative care and compassion.

Stafa said that when mothers, women or girls need therapy, they are told to wait for it “until the end of the year,” asking whether cancer can wait. He added that officials send their own relatives abroad, while Albanians face being given the runaround and the double pain of illness and being unable to do anything about it.