News agency Reuters writes that Prime Minister “Edi Rama defended the government’s decision to spend such an amount of money, as he tries to soften the strong public backlash and anger that has fueled protests and calls for his resignation.”

Reuters notes that Kanye West has been banned from performing in several European countries this summer following his statements, which have included praise for Adolf Hitler and the use of Nazi symbols.

The concert, scheduled for July 11 on the outskirts of Tirana, is expected to take place in a temporary stadium built specifically for the event.

In a Facebook post, Rama said the €4 million fund was approved at the last minute in order, according to him, to avoid damaging Albania’s image.

“We allocated €4 million at the last minute to avoid Albania’s humiliation in front of nearly 25,000 visitors from 80 countries around the world, who had already bought tickets for Kanye West’s concert, while many others feared it might be canceled,” Reuters quotes Rama as saying.

According to the prime minister, the event is expected to bring the Albanian economy at least €100 million in revenue, thanks to increased hotel bookings and tourism-related activities during the days of the concert.

However, his statements have sparked numerous critical reactions on social media. One commenter wrote that “Albania is humiliated when it welcomes a singer who admires Hitler,” while another responded: “Shame, not with my money!”

Reuters recalls that civic protests in Tirana have continued every day for more than a month. They initially began against plans to build a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The protests later widened to oppose other tourism projects near protected coastal areas, while protesters are also demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, accusing the government of corruption.

The post His government is accused of corruption/ Reuters: Rama defends €4 million funding for Kanye West as thousands of protesters demand his resignation every day appeared first on Albeu.com.

The lawmaker, who left the Socialist Party after the mass protests, says the government should have invested these 4 million euros to prevent fires and support residents, as the country risks facing the catastrophic situation of a year ago.

“Last year our country went through a fire catastrophe. I saw firsthand the extraordinary damage done to nature. This year the situation is expected to be even more alarming because of the high temperatures.

The 4 million euros for a one-time-use stadium should have been invested in fire prevention, in supporting residents, and in strengthening emergency capacities,” Koçeku writes.

In the end, she says ironically that the state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle, adding that, “the loss of nature is the loss of Albania.”

“The state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle. The loss of nature is the loss of Albania.”

Full statement:

Last year our country went through a fire catastrophe. I saw firsthand the extraordinary damage done to nature. This year the situation is expected to be even more alarming because of the high temperatures.

The 4 million euros for a one-time-use stadium should have been invested in fire prevention, in supporting residents, and in strengthening emergency capacities.

The state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle. The loss of nature is the loss of Albania.

The post The government funded Kanye West’s concert, Marjana Koçeku responds: The 4 million euros should have been invested in fire prevention, the state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle appeared first on Albeu.com.

The MP, who left the PS after the mass protests, says the government should have invested these 4 million euros to prevent fires and support residents as the country risks facing the catastrophic situation of a year ago.

“Last year our country went through a fire catastrophe. I saw up close the extraordinary damage done to nature. This year the situation is expected to be even more alarming because of the high temperatures.

The 4 million euros for a single-use stadium should have been invested in fire prevention, in supporting residents, and in strengthening emergency response capacities,” Koçeku writes.

In the end, she says ironically that the state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle, adding that, “the loss of nature is the loss of Albania.”

“The state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle. The loss of nature is the loss of Albania.”

Full statement:

Last year our country went through a fire catastrophe. I saw up close the extraordinary damage done to nature. This year the situation is expected to be even more alarming because of the high temperatures.

The 4 million euros for a single-use stadium should have been invested in fire prevention, in supporting residents, and in strengthening emergency response capacities.

The state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle. The loss of nature is the loss of Albania.

The post The government funded Kanye West’s concert, Marjana Koçeku: The 4 million euros should have been invested in fire prevention! The state and accountability cannot be replaced by spectacle appeared first on Albeu.com.