One of them is the German newspaper “Der Standard”.

“Surveillance of the population, intimidation and abuse of public structures. The country is not yet free,” writes from Tirana, Adelheid Wölfl for “Der Standard”.

Full article:

The boss not only controls the affairs of the country, but also those of the capital, Tirana. Since the mayor, Erion Veliaj, has been imprisoned since February 2025, Edi Rama also took political control of the metropolis. Officially, the city is administered by politician Megi Fino, but it is Rama who pulls the strings.

This is particularly true when it comes to large-scale construction projects: giant towers, often half empty and placed so close to historic buildings that they destroy the city’s appearance. In February 2025, the anti-corruption prosecution office SPAK ordered Veliaj’s arrest. He is accused of embezzling 1.1 million euros through 9 public contracts or construction permits. He denies all charges.

Detailed profiles of the population

Local elections will be held in Tirana next May, and it will then become clear whether the current movement for democracy, which demands accountability, transparency and respect for the law from the ruling socialists, has also changed the political landscape in Albania. So far, there are no significant opposition parties that support the democratization of society.

This is also related to the electoral law, which was changed in 2008 by the two main parties – the Socialists and the Democratic Party – in such a way that the two large parties are favored at the expense of smaller parties.

The Socialist Party has created a system that in Albanian has been called “patronazhistë” (clientelist). Party members, officials and public sector employees are required to create detailed profiles of citizens – including information on their employment status, voting behavior, political orientation and personal circumstances. In 2021, these personal data of approximately 900,000 citizens were made public.

Lack of historical knowledge

This surveillance system shows that state institutions serve the ruling party, but also reveals the extent to which the old structures of the most brutal communist dictatorships in Europe continue to exist. Jonila Godole from the “Institute for Democracy, Media and Culture” in Tirana emphasizes that many young Albanians lack the historical knowledge to understand current power mechanisms in connection with the communist past.

“They barely learn in school what happened here. Only 4 pages in the history book are dedicated to the 45 years of dictatorship,” Godole says. She notes that victims of the dictatorship, such as political prisoners, are barely remembered. “To this day, there is no state national museum in an authentic place of suffering,” she laments.

Thousands of executions

During the dictatorship, approximately 6,000 people were executed, tens of thousands were imprisoned, and up to 1 in 3 Albanians was under regime surveillance. Thousands of victims are still considered missing. “There was no political will to come to terms with the dictatorship. What has been done is just a façade,” Godole tells “Der Standard”.

From 1991 to 1996, more than 35 former officials were arrested, but they were declared innocent after the Socialist Party came to power. Some even continued to have successful careers. Gramoz Ruçi became Interior Minister during the dictatorship in 1990, thus becoming head of the notorious secret police, the Sigurimi. Critics accuse him of being responsible for the shooting of 4 demonstrators during protests on April 2, 1991.

When Ruçi was elected Speaker of Parliament in 2017 during Rama’s governance, Rama dismissed the criticism, declaring that the new Speaker was a highly experienced member of parliament, fully suitable for this position.

Godole believes it is essential that the judiciary this time takes decisive action against politicians involved in illegal activities and that the mistakes of the 1990s are not repeated. The last hope for many of the demonstrators is SPAK, the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption, created a few years ago with the help of the USA and the EU. Indeed, several cases against politicians are currently underway, stemming from SPAK investigations.

Youth no longer afraid

Nevertheless, according to many critics, the current government has become increasingly corrupt and disconnected from the realities of people suffering from excessive real estate prices and a lack of educational and career opportunities. “Young people here have nothing left to lose,” Godole explains.

Many young people still want to stay in Albania. Unlike their parents and grandparents, these people, who were not socialized under a communist dictatorship, can no longer be controlled through fear. “They are rebelling against the arrogance of the political class,” Godole says. Rama, who presents himself abroad as a modern artist, is in fact acting with increasing authoritarianism at home and now represents a backward-looking policy.

“The façade has been destroyed,” Godole says. Traditional media are also suffering a massive loss of credibility because they initially did not report on the daily protests.

Fear in the administration

“Boycott the media!” read posters. But Rama’s socialists still maintain strong control over a segment of society. Those who work in the administration fear they will lose their jobs if they protest. And business owners, not wanting an unexpected visit from the tax authorities, are also holding back.

One woman who dared to turn her back on Rama and the socialists is MP Marjana Koçeku. On June 14, 2026, she announced her resignation from the Socialist Party and has since been an independent member of parliament. Koçeku shared on social media a photograph of a flamingo, the symbol of the movement for democracy. But Koçeku’s case also shows what awaits those who leave the regime.

On June 17, Koçeku wrote that her family had been threatened by the criminal group “Bajri” in Shkodër. She warned that she would react if something happened to her family. She criticized a political system built over decades on fear, submission and alienation.

The old ghosts of the repressive communist era have returned, even though Rama wanted to give the Socialist Party a new face. The prime minister, who wanted to go down in history as a reformer, has apparently been haunted by his past. Rama’s father, Kristaqi, was in the People’s Presidency during the dictatorship and thus was part of the “Old Regime.” And the son apparently cannot see how outdated his style of governance is for the young protesters.

The post “Youth no longer afraid” / 44 days of revolt demanding Rama’s resignation, “Der Standard” echoes the popular protest in Albania! appeared first on Albeu.com.