Millions for Illiterate MPs, Only 10,000 New Lek for the Elderly”/ Young Man Outside the Prime Minister’s Office: Neither Rama nor Berisha Represents Us; We…

On the 64th day of protests against the government, hundreds of citizens once again gathered outside the Prime Minister’s Office. Among those who spoke was a young man who denounced the deep social inequalities and political divisions that, according to him, the old political establishment has fostered among citizens.

In his speech, he urged Albanians to move beyond partisan clashes between the left and the right and unite against those in power who have abused the country.

“When they retire, illiterate MPs will receive staggering sums, while our elderly receive only 10,000 new lek. It is precisely this double standard that has divided Albania!

The division I see today is no longer between the left and the right, but between citizens and those in power. That is also their goal: while we clash with one another over the left and the right, we do not dare look those at the top straight in the eye. By wasting time on our own quarrels, we overlook the real problem: those in power who are in parliament today.

They use divide-and-rule tactics to govern and keep us subjugated. But Albanians will no longer accept this! We will no longer label one another. Albanians have now awakened and come together. This unity frightens politicians because, as soon as we unite and put them in their place, we threaten their power and their millions!

Albanians, the time has come to stop lining up behind political parties and instead stand by one another! We will look those in power straight in the eye and tell them without fear that they are wrong. Our voice will be heard from this square and will echo through every street in Albania.

‘Divide and rule’ is an old strategy. But we Albanians have prepared a message for those in power who believe they can rule us: you cannot rule us, and you do not represent us! None of them represents us—neither Edi Rama nor Sali Berisha. We, as Albanians, will represent one another!

You can spray us with as much pepper spray and blast us with as much high-pressure water as you like; you can insult us endlessly, but we will not leave this square. On the contrary, by doing so, you are only further fueling the fire that has started here,” he declared.