Lutfi Dervishi criticizes Rama: He considers the vote a blank check for four years and protests a nuisance, “this too shall pass

Police, propaganda, irresponsibility

1. Police. Through their violent interventions against young people, both during protests and outside them. From the very first day, the police’s unprofessional actions have poured gasoline on the fire.

Particularly disturbing are the images of masked civilians intervening against citizens and young people. If they are police officers, why are they breaking the law? The footage is reminiscent of the practices of the Tonton Macoutes, not the standards of the police force of a country that has just closed Chapter 20 of its negotiations with the EU.

2. Propaganda. After the images of police violence, the propaganda machine was set in motion. Instead of explanations for the interventions that outraged everyone, the public was served videos showing police officers directing tourists and helping citizens. As if footage of one police officer showing a tourist the way could erase images of 10 police officers beating another tourist like madmen in the center of Tirana.

3. Irresponsibility. The philosophy of those in power is: “We do whatever we want. Protest as much as you like, even for the rest of your life if you want. We will still do whatever we want”!

This is the logic of a government that considers the vote a blank check for four years and protests a nuisance that must be endured until “this too shall pass.”

When you respond to peaceful protest with indifference, anger with police, and violence with propaganda, you risk losing control of what happens next.

BY LUTFI DERVISHI