The government gave 4 million euros for Kanye West’s concert / Citizens to DW: The money should have gone to education and hospitals, some still have not returned to their homes after the earthquake

The internationally renowned singer, but also highly controversial for his antisemitic mindset, Kanye West will hold a concert in Tirana this evening.

The event is taking place amid widespread controversy over the use of 4 million euros by the Albanian government, taken from the Civil Emergencies fund, with the claim that the concert “affects the promotion of tourism and the image of the Republic of Albania.”

But what do the citizens of Tirana think? Some of them, speaking to DW, stress that the funds provided by the government could have gone to hospitals and education, or even to pensions, which are at scandalously low levels.

One citizen even mentioned that some of those affected by the earthquake several years ago still have not returned to their homes, and that this money the government is giving for the concert could have gone to them.

“I am against the concert because Albania has other problems and the concert is the last thing we should be thinking about. The hospitals have not been fixed, there is no water and no electricity,” said one woman.

“The Albanian government has paid 4 million euros for the organization of this concert while the country is boiling with protests over hospitals, education and security in the country. So that money should have been invested in education and hospitals,” added another citizen.

“I think we have many areas we need to address as a state in order to fix the country so that the tourists who come will have easier access, such as public transport and many other areas where investment is needed.”

“I am protesting against the show the prime minister put on with the people’s money because there are shortages in hospitals, scandalously low pensions, and there are still those who have not returned to their homes after the earthquake. With 4 million euros we could have bought fire trucks.”