Ditmir Bushati: The protests are a social revolt against the privatization of public spaces

Former Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati has described the protests, which have continued for 84 days with demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, as one of the largest social mobilizations in Albania since the end of the communist regime.

In an interview with “TheNewsAgents,” Bushati said the protests were driven by accumulated social discontent that had developed over the past decades.

According to him, the movement is not only about protecting a natural area, but also about the way public and economic life has evolved in the country.

Ditmir Bushati: The protests have taken center stage in public attention and debate, because since the fall of communism, protests of such size and intensity have not been seen on the streets of Tirana. At the same time, the involvement of the Albanian diaspora has also been noted. One-third of Albanians live outside Albania, mainly in Western capitals, where rallies have been held in support of the protesters’ causes in Tirana.

TheNewsAgents: At first glance, this may appear to be a limited issue involving a nature reserve on a particular island. What has made the situation so tense?

Ditmir Bushati: Beyond the issue of nature, this situation is linked to the predatory capitalism experienced over the past 30–35 years. Public spaces and public assets have continually diminished and, in a way, have been “privatized” by a handful of people.

Bushati emphasized that discontent over inequality and the lack of opportunities is growing in society. He said people are increasingly realizing that the development of recent years has come at the expense of their political and economic freedoms.

“This is about much more than protecting nature. It concerns the way public life functions in this country and the unequal distribution of economic opportunities. I see the protests as a demand to reconcile the protection of the environment and nature with development, as well as public assets with private ones,” he said.

The former foreign minister hopes that this period will serve as a defining moment for Albania, gradually steering the country toward a different economic model: from the predatory capitalism of the past 30–35 years to a more socially oriented capitalism.