The 55th Day of Civil Resistance: Protesters Again at ‘Skënderbej’ Square with the Call ‘Rama, Resign!’

Today, the civic movement marks its 55th consecutive day of protest, becoming one of the longest-lasting demonstrations in Albania’s 35-year history of pluralism. Participants initially gathered at the central “Skënderbej” Square, from where they are expected to set off on a march towards the Prime Minister’s Office. In front of the government headquarters, organizers will deliver speeches and reaffirm their demands to the authorities.

The central demand of the protest remains the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, a call that the gathered citizens consider non-negotiable. For 55 nights, thousands have stood each evening in front of the Prime Minister’s Office and then marched through the capital’s boulevards.

Throughout these weeks, the crowd has expressed its anger through a series of powerful chants. In addition to the main call “Rama, resign” and the pledge “More tomorrow,” slogans such as “Albania is not for sale,” “Your end has come,” “Rama to prison, Berisha to prison,” “Rama to prison, Belinda to prison,” as well as chants like “Arrest Rama, arrest Balluku,” “Rama, SPAK You,” “Revolution,” “Sold-out opposition,” and “We will not give up until the end” have also been heard.

Just last night, a large number of citizens had gathered at the same starting point, “Skënderbej” Square, before continuing on to the Prime Minister’s Office. Both organizers and participants have warned that the mobilization will continue in the days to come, vowing not to leave the square until their demands are met.