Day 49 of the Protest: Citizens Take to the Square Again, Demand Prime Minister Rama’s Resignation: Your End Has Come!

Today will mark the 49th protest by Albanian citizens, who have demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. They will initially gather in Skanderbeg Square before marching towards the Prime Minister’s Office, where they will deliver their speeches.

The protest, which began as a direct response to the situation in Zvërnec, has culminated in a demand for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Holding banners and red-and-black flags, protesters have called for change. The protest has brought together children, elderly people, students, professionals, activists and tourists.

Citizens have called for five demands to be met, including the non-negotiable resignation of Prime Minister Rama, the establishment of a technical government and constitutional changes.

During yesterday’s march, protesters chanted in unison: “Edi Rama, oh traitor, do not bargain with Albania,” “Rama, resign,” “Without youth there is no Albania,” “Down with the patronage officials,” “Albania for Albanians, death to traitors,” “Albania demands a revolution,” “Oh Erion, you scumbag, wait for Rama because he is coming,” and “Your end has come.”

The protesters’ demands:

1. The non-negotiable resignation of the prime minister and the government.

2. The establishment of a transitional, non-partisan technical government with a 12-month mandate.

3. Constitutional changes ensuring that all Albanian citizens are equal before the law, and their approval through a popular referendum, including, among other things: amendments to the Electoral Code, amendments to the law on the financing of political parties and various organisations, and limiting an individual’s tenure as prime minister to no more than two terms, whether full or partial, throughout their political lifetime.

4. The simultaneous repeal of amendments made to the law on protected areas, the repeal of amendments made to the law on cultural heritage, the abolition of the Mountains Package, as well as the abolition of the status and legal framework for strategic investments.

5. A new social contract between citizens and the state, to be drafted after consultations with intellectuals, technical experts and non-partisan citizens proposed by the protest square.