Rama to DW: No one can teach me about beauty, resignation has not been and will not be an option

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in an interview with DW, spoke about the daily protests in Albania against a planned luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, as well as about Artificial Intelligence, democracy and governance.

Asked at the “Jahrhunderthalle” about the role Artificial Intelligence could play in overseeing the 4 billion euros expected to come from tourism developments on the coast, Rama said he sees no connection between the two issues. According to him, AI can help people gain more knowledge every day and provide unimaginable assistance both with information and with advice, adding that everything will be headed in that direction.

Regarding claims of a crack in trust toward the “architecture” of power and protesters’ concerns over a lack of public consultation and democratic oversight, the head of government said there is no breakdown of trust in Albania. He described the situation as an example of freedom and democracy in action, stressing that the boulevard belongs to people from every walk of life who want to express their views and be heard. Rama added that this is an indicator of the progress the country has made, recalling that on that same boulevard, not a century ago but during our own political lifetime, people were killed during protests. According to him, this is a beautiful example Albania is giving to the world and a very unique case for the region.

Asked what a future that may take the shape of a Trump-Kushner luxury resort says about Albania, Rama said people can give him lessons in many fields, such as the economy, legal matters, agriculture or healthcare, but not about beauty. He said this is not simply because he is an artist, but also because of his experience as culture minister, mayor and prime minister, stating that all of his thinking has been grounded precisely in beauty. According to Rama, the transformation of public space and urban areas has been an inseparable part of his journey and the arrival of 12 million tourists in Albania is linked to this effort. He underlined that beauty is something he believes in and fights for, while accusing the journalist of prejudice because of the mention of names.

When DW pressed him on this point, Rama asked to finish his answer and said he cannot respond on the basis of names such as Trump and Kushner. According to him, the question “what could a project by Trump and Kushner look like?” is meaningless, because the project is still being developed and can only be discussed when it is ready. He stressed that he will not enter into discussions about people, figures or ideological battles, adding that these are other people’s battles, not his. Rama declared that his battle is to bring foreign direct investment to Albania and encourage developments that, according to him, will be not only excellent for the country, but also a gift for Europe.

On the question of whether the privatization of public space is a price the government is willing to pay for this transformation, Rama categorically rejected the claim. He said this is another lie that has been repeated so often that it has turned into a “fact,” and stressed that there is no privatization of public space.

When asked whether he can guarantee that everyone will have access, Rama replied that the issue is not a guarantee, but proof. He said we live in a civilization that since the time of the Romans has established a simple principle: whoever makes accusations must bring proof. Addressing the journalist, he said her question is based on a lie and asked her to show specifically where the privatization is or what data exists that raises concern about the privatization of public land. Rama said this has never happened and will not happen.

Regarding the changes made in 2024 to Albanian environmental protection laws, which according to DW are intended to pave the way for luxury hotel tourism and have increased concerns over the lack of public consultation, Rama said the facts are being set aside. He acknowledged that legal changes have been made, but stressed that the essence of the law has not been touched and that these changes do not run contrary to European standards and criteria. According to him, this will be verified through Albania’s negotiation process. Rama added that prejudices are not arguments and insinuations are not facts, while stressing that if there are facts that contradict his, they should be presented. Otherwise, according to him, he cannot help by answering questions about ideological battles linked to Trump or other things.

In the part of the interview about “digital anger,” where DW recalled the term “angerithm” used by him and what he called the government’s very positive experience with AI, including the appointment of a minister who is herself an Artificial Intelligence algorithm, Rama said there is no such thing as good algorithmic use. According to him, the algorithm does not like boring truth, but entertaining lies; it does not like nuance, but scandal; it does not like peace and love, but anger and fear, because these are the things that appeal more to human nature.

He went on to say that it is not for him to determine how this issue can be resolved in a democratic society like Europe, but added that Europe and the democratic world are making a mistake that one day may become the ultimate cause of democracy’s end. According to Rama, this mistake is accepting freedom of “reach” as an extension of freedom of speech. He said freedom of “reach” is not freedom of speech, but the deadliest weapon dictatorships have had against freedom, to enter the brain and plant their truth there by crushing every other truth. Rama stressed that the algorithm does not suppress with secret police or controlled judges, but through drowning and amplification, reinforcing lies and drowning the truth. He added that every study shows lies are rewarded on social media, while truth is accepted less.

Asked about the protests, which in Albania have entered their second month, and about his previous statements, first that he had considered resignation and later that it is not an option, Rama said these are not two opposing versions. He explained that in the parliamentary group he had shared his views and his feeling that he was elected and remains in office to get things done, not to be dragged along. According to him, resignation has not been, is not and will not be an option, for one very simple reason: he and the Socialist Party were mandated by 868 thousand Albanians to fulfill the mission of closing the negotiations for membership in the European Union. Rama described this as a historic mission that cannot be left halfway for any reason, especially because a section of citizens chooses to protest.

On the other hand, he said the protest is highly meaningful for Albania, for the degree of freedom and democracy, as well as for the fact that people protest in the country. According to him, people from all walks of life take to the streets to protest for their causes, while the government has a duty to listen to them and read every message they give, which, according to Rama, is happening.

Finally, asked whether, if he were not prime minister, he himself would take part in a protest for better hospitals, over the brain drain that has continued for years, or for a better system and administration, which he himself accused a few days ago of being responsible, Rama said he has no reason to think he would protest if he relied on the facts and real information. He added that if he were guided by manipulation, lies and amplification, then of course he too would be there. According to Rama, the truth and the facts are different. He acknowledged that healthcare, education and other fields have their problems, but underlined that these problems did not arise on the day the protest began. According to him, they have existed for a long time, have been put on the path to resolution and have been partially resolved. He stressed that in order to move their solution forward, the government received the mandate of the Albanian people with the largest majority ever since he has led the Socialist Party. Rama concluded by saying that it cannot happen that someone wakes up one day and says “I want better healthcare and this government must go,” because, according to him, that is not how it works and people must wait until the next elections.