On the 76th day of the protest, News24 journalist Osman Stafa delivered a speech before citizens gathered on the Boulevard, describing the rally as one of the most significant events in Albania’s history.
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According to him, the 76 days of protest cannot be treated simply as figures, as they represent what he called the country’s most beautiful history. Stafa told the participants that they were not merely protesters, but also missionaries of an unprecedented cause.
The journalist said that, unlike previous occasions when the squares had been filled by political parties, this time Albania itself had gathered there. He said citizens no longer accept theft and depopulation, while stressing that the protest is supported by far more people and far more heart than those physically present in the square.
The diaspora held a special place in his speech, with Stafa describing it as the heart of Albania. He recalled that Albanians abroad had been forced to leave because politics had failed to create opportunities for them to build their families and their future here.
Speaking about the young people he had accompanied from the Train Station, Stafa said they had traveled thousands of kilometers out of love for Albania, solely to wave the red-and-black flag at the protest. According to him, the diaspora will pay back the political establishment that drove it out of the country.
He also addressed the pain of parents who cannot see their children and who, as he put it, leave this world burdened by sorrow. Stafa said that during this period he had received many messages from Albanians raising their children abroad while worrying about their parents in Albania.
The journalist thanked the diaspora, which, according to him, has not abandoned the nation. He described as historic both the protest held in that square in Albania and the rallies organized by the diaspora in every country. Rejecting the labels directed at emigrants, Stafa said they are not “crows” or “guts,” but the most beautiful part of the red-and-black flag.
He then raised concerns about the healthcare system, mentioning the Oncology and Neurology departments. Stafa declared that the condition of the hospitals alone would be enough to make Albanians take to the streets in protest, citing as an example the case of a person who arrives with a head injury and, according to him, faces two tragic possibilities: death or paralysis.
In conclusion, Stafa emphasized that the temperatures during the hottest days of summer had not frightened the citizens, who had changed their plans in order to be present in the square. He added that politicians were feeling the real heat, as September was approaching, and warned that the month would belong to Albania, not to the party.
