Anti-government protests in Albania have reached their 28th day, and throughout these weeks there has been no shortage of developments both on the ground, where rallies are being organized, and on the political scene.
One of the consequences accompanying this wave of protests is the departure of MP Marjana Koçeku, known as Neomalsorja, from the Socialist Party’s Parliamentary Group. Her decision has drawn attention not only in the country’s media and public opinion, but has also been reflected in international media.
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Koçeku herself published on social media an interview she gave to the British outlet “Britannia Daily.”
Sharing the interview, which carries the title: “One of Albania’s youngest MPs leaves the ruling party as protests intensify and says ‘This government cannot deliver change’,” she wrote: “In an effort to help internationalize the issue of these days. In an effort to shed light on the dark corners where the old and decadent elite of our Albania still hides, if only for a little while longer.”
In the interview, Koçeku lists a series of problems related to governance and the functioning of institutions, emphasizing that MPs do not enjoy full freedom in decision-making and are subject to the rules of party discipline.
As for the protests, she describes them as “among the most inspiring civic movements I have seen, not only in Albania, but also in Europe in recent years,” adding that they have brought hope and inspiration not only in the country, but in Europe as well.
The MP also says that the Socialist government is not capable of producing the change that is being demanded.
According to the full interview, Marjana Koçeku, one of Albania’s youngest MPs and now a former member of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, told the newspaper Britannia Daily that the broad protest movement in the country reflects a “deeper crisis of trust” between citizens and political institutions. She delivered a clear message to demonstrators: “You are not alone.”
Koçeku, who took her parliamentary mandate last September and later left the Socialist Party to continue as an independent MP, said that growing disappointment with the way power is exercised in Albanian politics ultimately led her to this decision. In Albanian politics, departures from the main parties are rare, especially when it comes to young MPs emerging from the governing majority, making her decision an unusual case of political independence. Her statements carry particular weight because they come from a politician who until recently was part of the majority and now represents one of the few independent voices in parliament. As one of the youngest MPs, she said she feels close to the aspirations of the protesters, most of them young people, who believe the political system no longer reflects their concerns.
Her positions offer a rare glimpse into the discontent growing within the governing majority at a time when Albania is experiencing one of the largest protest movements of recent years.
The fact that she entered Parliament less than a year ago has made her decision to break away from the majority even more widely discussed, because of her age and the speed with which she became disillusioned with the political system.
The significance of this step is also linked to the fact that Koçeku was elected as part of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party majority before deciding to leave and continue as an independent MP. In this new status, she says she is no longer constrained by party discipline and will vote according to her conscience and the interests of voters.
“Parliament very often functions as a place where party decisions are simply approved rather than genuinely examined,” she told Britannia Daily. “One of the fundamental responsibilities of an MP is to exercise independent judgment on behalf of the citizens who elected them. Yet in practice, party discipline often takes precedence over the public interest.”
In her conversation with Britannia Daily, Koçeku repeatedly focused on accountability, the need for democratic renewal and the necessity of a new generation of political leaders.
She stressed that her departure from the ruling party comes against the backdrop of one of the most important civic movements in Albania’s recent history, in which tens of thousands of people, mainly young people, have taken to the streets in peaceful protests to demand accountability, transparency and democratic reform. These protests have become one of the defining political developments of recent months, mobilizing a generation of citizens who say they do not feel heard by traditional political structures.
Koçeku clarified that the protests were not the reason for her departure from the party, but that they significantly reinforced the decision.
“The protests have been among the most inspiring civic movements I have seen, not only in Albania, but also in Europe in recent years,” she said. “When tens of thousands of citizens mobilize peacefully to demand accountability and democratic change, elected representatives have a duty to listen.”
According to her, the issues raised by protesters, such as government accountability, environmental protection, transparency over major development projects and the rising cost of living, are “the same concerns” that had pushed her to question the direction the country was taking. Rather than reading this movement with concern, she described it as a source of optimism.
“I see this movement as a sign of hope and not despair,” she said. “It shows that people have not given up on democracy — on the contrary, they are demanding that it work better.”
In one of the strongest statements of the interview, Koçeku suggested that others within Albania’s political establishment may in the future follow her example, a signal that could cause concern in the Socialist Party.
“From my conversations and observations, I believe there is growing concern within some parts of Albania’s political establishment,” she said. “I feel that not everyone is comfortable with the current direction of political leadership, even if many choose not to express these concerns publicly.”
She added: “I believe it is only a matter of time before more politicians find the courage to speak openly and act according to their convictions. Healthy democracies depend on individuals who are willing to stand up for their beliefs and ideas beyond general political comfort.”
As for her former colleagues in the Socialist Party, Koçeku was brief: “From this point on, all communication between us will take place through official channels. I have had no contact with any of them.”
According to her, the protests are not merely a reaction to certain policies, but an expression of a much deeper problem: the crisis of trust between citizens and the institutions that are supposed to serve them.
“Many Albanians feel that political decisions are increasingly being made without meaningful public consultation and that institutions are becoming less responsive to the people they are meant to serve,” she said. “When citizens lose faith that their concerns can be addressed through ordinary political channels, they naturally seek other democratic ways to have their voices heard.”
Koçeku argued that reforms cannot be credible if they are led by the same political culture against which citizens are protesting, suggesting that the current establishment no longer enjoys the trust needed to produce real change. According to her, restoring trust requires far more than policy announcements.
“Rebuilding trust will require more than policy changes,” she said. “It requires a different political culture — one based on transparency, stronger democratic institutions, respect for the rule of law and a willingness to listen to citizens even when their message is uncomfortable.”
Koçeku stressed that Albania does not simply need a change of government, but a new generation of leaders committed to accountability, transparency and democratic dialogue. Her concluding position was unequivocal.
“What Albania needs is not simply a change of individuals, but a renewal of the entire political culture. The political elite, the functioning of our institutions and the mindset that has shaped governance for decades all require deep reform.”
She continued: “Sustainable change will not come from replacing one group of political actors with another if the same practices and mentality remain untouched. Albania needs an entirely new generation of leadership that embraces accountability, transparency, democratic dialogue and public service as the fundamental principles of governance.”
Her message to the protesters was direct and personal.
“Your voices matter, and you should never believe that peaceful civic engagement is futile,” she told Britannia Daily. “You are not alone — in fact, you now have a mandate in parliament as well.”
Koçeku said that many protesters had personally invited her to join the demonstrations, a gesture she called “a sign of trust that I deeply value.” She said that since announcing her decision she has received thousands of messages from ordinary citizens, members of the Albanian diaspora, academics and public figures, who told her that her step had renewed their belief that politics can still be guided by principles rather than political expediency.
“The strength of this reaction reflects the fact that such a decision is highly unusual in Albanian politics,” she said. “It has challenged a long-standing political culture and opened a broader public discussion about political independence, accountability and the responsibility of elected representatives to put citizens before party interests.”
Meanwhile, Albania has witnessed some of its largest and most sustained demonstrations in recent years, with tens of thousands of citizens taking to the streets of Tirana and other cities to demand greater government accountability, transparency and democratic reform. The movement, widely known as the “Flamingo Revolution,” initially began as an environmental campaign against controversial luxury tourism developments on Sazan Island and on the peninsula near Zvërnec, projects backed by American investor Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
These developments, which include plans for luxury resorts in environmentally sensitive areas near the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape, have faced strong opposition from environmentalists, local residents and members of the Albanian diaspora, who fear damage to protected ecosystems and accuse the government of placing elite investment interests above public concerns.
What began as opposition to the resort projects later evolved into a broader movement against alleged corruption, perceived state capture, lack of transparency and growing dissatisfaction with Albania’s political establishment. Protesters have demanded deep political reforms and, in some cases, the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, arguing that the demonstrations go beyond a single development project and represent a demand for a new political culture rooted in accountability and public trust.
