Two Months of Protests Against Rama / Osman Stafa: After 13 Years in Power, the Promise of 24-Hour Water Supply Remains Just Words—What Loyalty Does He Expect?

For two months without interruption, Albanian citizens have been raising their voices to express their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Edi Rama, calling for his resignation.

In an interview with “News24,” journalist Osman Stafa highlighted the protesters’ determination to distance themselves from the entire political class that has governed for 36 years and which, according to them, is the source of Albanians’ daily hardships.

“Citizens are becoming increasingly convinced that Albanian politics bears direct responsibility for the current living conditions. Their demand is not limited solely to the departure of the head of government but extends to opposition against the entire 36-year-old political establishment,” he said.

Stafa also drew attention to the prime minister’s unfulfilled pledges, citing uninterrupted water supply, the legalization process and free healthcare as examples.

“At the end of every term he wins, Rama organizes a meeting, puts the administration at the center of criticism or repeats several promises, but then everything is forgotten. A political leader’s honor is embodied in keeping his word. What happened to the water supply promised back in his first term? What happened to the legalizations? Where is free healthcare?… The ‘three-headed monster’ is swallowing up our rivers through the construction of hydropower plants, while protected areas are being damaged indiscriminately… What trust does he expect now?” journalist Stafa concluded.