Kanye West’s concert in Tirana has also drawn attention abroad, at a time when Albania has been gripped by major protests for 39 days. In an analysis, the German magazine Der Spiegel places the event against the backdrop of political tension in the country, noting that both Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kanye West have faced years of intense public debate and criticism.
According to the German outlet, “Rama and Kanye West have known how to attract attention for years. Today, both are at the center of criticism.”
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As tens of thousands of citizens continue to protest for weeks in Albania, accusing Rama of corruption, authoritarianism and closeness to Donald Trump, the article stresses that Kanye West also remains a controversial figure internationally because of his anti-Semitic statements, which have made him unwelcome in some countries.
At the center of the discussion is the concert planned for Saturday on the outskirts of Tirana. Der Spiegel writes that the Albanian government has decided to cover this event with more than 4 million euros, including the construction of a temporary arena.
The German media outlet also quotes Prime Minister Rama, according to whom the funds were approved “at the last minute” to avoid, as he put it, damaging Albania’s image in front of around 25,000 visitors from about 80 countries, who had already bought concert tickets.
According to Rama, the event is expected to bring “at least” 100 million euros in revenue to the Albanian economy, mainly from increased hotel bookings and tourism activity.
However, Der Spiegel underlines that the decision to finance the concert has sparked strong reactions at a time when protests against the government have continued for more than a month. The article recalls that Rama has promoted foreign investment in Albania for years, but protesters, mainly young people, accuse him of prioritizing private interests at the expense of public assets.
According to the German outlet, another issue that has fueled public anger is the project to build a luxury resort by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, in a protected natural area on the Albanian coast. In the analysis, the debate surrounding Kanye West’s concert is presented as a symbol of the broader political clash over how the Albanian government manages public funds and major investment projects.
