Protesters Appeal to Western Ambassadors, 5 Non-Negotiable Demands to the Rama Government

After 27 days of daily protests against the government and Prime Minister Edi Rama, the civic movement has decided to extend its action to the international stage.

In this context, the Protest Coordination Group has sent an official letter to the ambassadors and heads of mission of Western countries accredited in Albania, informing them of the political developments in the country and the demands raised by the protesters. In this document, representatives of the movement describe the initiative as a broad and peaceful civic mobilization which, according to them, has brought people together in defense of democracy, the rule of law, and human dignity.

The letter stresses that “Albania is at a defining moment in its democratic development,” while emphasizing that citizens across the country are peacefully exercising their right to express themselves in public spaces.

The Coordination Group has listed five main demands, which it presents as a reflection of the will of the protesters.

The first demand is the resignation of the prime minister and the current government, describing this as a necessary step for political change.

Secondly, the movement proposes the establishment of a non-partisan transitional technical government with a 12-month mandate, aimed at guaranteeing a new reform process.

The third demand concerns a deep constitutional reform, which according to them should be approved by referendum. This includes changes to the Electoral Code, rules on the financing of political parties, as well as limiting the prime minister’s terms to a maximum of two.

The fourth point calls for changes to several laws, specifically the repeal of the law on protected areas, the law on cultural heritage, the package known as the “Mountain Package,” as well as the framework for strategic investments.

As a fifth demand, they propose drafting a new social contract between citizens and the state, through consultations with independent experts and civil society.

At the end of the letter, the Coordination Group calls on international representatives to take the protest seriously and support a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive solution to the political situation in the country. “We remain at your disposal for any further communication,” the document states, also expressing confidence in shared European values such as democracy and human dignity.