Ermal Pashaj: Rama’s Actions Will Not Stop the Protest; Albanians Are Rebuilding Trust in One Another

Doctor and protester Ermal Pashaj, speaking as a guest on News24, commented on the wave of popular protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama and the government, which entered its 69th day today.

According to him, the reactions and rhetoric of the head of government are further strengthening the resolve of citizens, intellectuals, and professional groups.

Pashaj said the authorities’ attempts to discredit the movement are not diminishing the intensity of the revolt. He also stressed the need for a response from the institutions responsible for enforcing the law.

According to him, Rama’s condemnatory actions are encouraging citizens not to back down, while professionals and intellectuals are engaging through institutional channels.

Pashaj said there is hope that the state will take shape and that, as long as part of the population continues to react, law enforcement bodies may also experience a renewed sense of responsibility.

He emphasized that nothing can be achieved without trust, which has been undermined by politics over the years, but added that Albanians have shown they trust one another and have provided tangible support at certain moments during the protest.

The doctor went on to explain that the protest began as a spontaneous reaction, bringing citizens together around shared problems before gradually developing into a more organized movement.

Pashaj stated that a strategy is now being followed and that many groups have joined the protest, which, according to him, was inevitable.

He said it all began with a visual image that ignited Albanians’ pent-up anger, rather than with an organization planned in advance by someone.

People reacted because each of them felt affected by an issue, while the participants who gathered in the square did not know one another well.

For this reason, according to him, they need time to get to know one another, while groups have been formed to seek solutions. In conclusion, Ermal Pashaj expressed his conviction that time will filter out all the issues and that, ultimately, the core will remain.