On the 76th day of the protest, News24 journalist Osman Stafa delivered a speech before citizens gathered on the Boulevard, describing the rally as one of the most significant events in Albania’s history.

According to him, the 76 days of protest cannot be treated simply as figures, as they represent what he called the country’s most beautiful history. Stafa told the participants that they were not merely protesters, but also missionaries of an unprecedented cause.

The journalist said that, unlike previous occasions when the squares had been filled by political parties, this time Albania itself had gathered there. He said citizens no longer accept theft and depopulation, while stressing that the protest is supported by far more people and far more heart than those physically present in the square.

The diaspora held a special place in his speech, with Stafa describing it as the heart of Albania. He recalled that Albanians abroad had been forced to leave because politics had failed to create opportunities for them to build their families and their future here.

Speaking about the young people he had accompanied from the Train Station, Stafa said they had traveled thousands of kilometers out of love for Albania, solely to wave the red-and-black flag at the protest. According to him, the diaspora will pay back the political establishment that drove it out of the country.

He also addressed the pain of parents who cannot see their children and who, as he put it, leave this world burdened by sorrow. Stafa said that during this period he had received many messages from Albanians raising their children abroad while worrying about their parents in Albania.

The journalist thanked the diaspora, which, according to him, has not abandoned the nation. He described as historic both the protest held in that square in Albania and the rallies organized by the diaspora in every country. Rejecting the labels directed at emigrants, Stafa said they are not “crows” or “guts,” but the most beautiful part of the red-and-black flag.

He then raised concerns about the healthcare system, mentioning the Oncology and Neurology departments. Stafa declared that the condition of the hospitals alone would be enough to make Albanians take to the streets in protest, citing as an example the case of a person who arrives with a head injury and, according to him, faces two tragic possibilities: death or paralysis.

In conclusion, Stafa emphasized that the temperatures during the hottest days of summer had not frightened the citizens, who had changed their plans in order to be present in the square. He added that politicians were feeling the real heat, as September was approaching, and warned that the month would belong to Albania, not to the party.

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Divjaka Mayor Josip Gorrea has commented on his discussions with Prime Minister Edi Rama during a meeting held in Kuç on the new territorial division and the future of the local government unit he leads. He made it clear that he has not backed down from his position and continues to demand that Divjaka remain a separate municipality.

Gorrea explained that the meeting was held behind closed doors and that each mayor had an opportunity to present their views. According to him, the broad discussion within the political group represents an important step forward, while the prime minister kept the conversation open and gave everyone room to express themselves freely. At that meeting, Gorrea again opposed changing Divjaka’s status.

Speaking about the position he took during the discussions, the mayor said he was responsible for speaking only on his own behalf and not for others. He stressed that his position had always been clear, had not changed at any point from his previous statements, and that in Kuç he forcefully argued why Divjaka should continue to be a municipality.

The mayor also called into question the work of the Commission headed by Arbjan Mazniku. Gorrea said he had identified several inconsistencies and errors in the Commission’s materials, which he would make public.

During the debate, he said he had also presented a comparison between Lushnja and Divjaka. According to Gorrea, the quote used by the Commission may refer to a meeting attended by local government representatives.

Gorrea also drew attention to earlier statements by senior Socialist Party representatives. According to him, they had clearly stated, including at a meeting covered by the media, that no changes would be made in Fier County.

He added that during the meeting he firmly maintained that he had not been informed. The mayor confirmed that he would continue to demand that the Municipality of Divjaka be preserved, while his objections also concern the way the arguments supporting the proposed changes were constructed.

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The weather in Sarandë changed suddenly as, following the high temperatures recorded during the day, the coastal city was hit by rain.

The heavy rainfall was accompanied by thunder and lightning, also bringing significant electrical activity in the atmosphere.

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Speaking at the protest held outside the Prime Minister’s Office, actor Mehdi Malkaj appealed to Albanians to unite, while condemning the country’s political and regional divisions.

According to Malkaj, Albanians should not be categorized as northerners and southerners, as the entire territory of Albania belongs to the same homeland. He said the people had been reduced to a sorry state, while noting that the word “fatherland” is used in the North and “motherland” in the South. “We have a mother and a father, and yet we are orphans,” the actor declared.

During his speech, Malkaj also criticized those who do not join the protests but stay at home and voice their opinions from there. He asked where they were, called them “pathetic people” and questioned whether someone who sits at home with their legs crossed and offers opinions can be considered an intellectual.

The actor called for Albanians across the country, from Konispol to Tropojë, to unite. He stressed that there is no North-South divide and described it as a despicable political tactic aimed at dividing citizens.

Malkaj also greeted his old friends from the Alliance for the Theatre, who, he said, have taken part in the protests since the first day.

In closing, he addressed young men and women, saying that Albania had been left to them in this condition. He then fiercely attacked Prime Minister Edi Rama, calling him a “scumbag” and saying that he must first be put in his place. Malkaj described Rama as Albania’s greatest enemy, declaring that the country had never seen a greater enemy than him.

The post Mehdi Malkaj Calls for Unity: We Have a Mother and Father, Yet We Have Been Left Orphans; Politics Seeks to Divide Us appeared first on Albeu.com.

Citizens have begun gathering in Skanderbeg Square for a protest against Edi Rama’s government. During the rally, chants have been directed at the prime minister, including the slogan “Resign!”

The protesters are then expected to march toward the Prime Minister’s Office, where the protest has continued for 74 days. Today’s rally is part of the ongoing protest through which citizens and organizers are demanding political change and expressing their opposition to the Rama government.

After the march ends, participants will gather in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. At this location, where the protest has continued for 74 days, anti-government chants are expected to resume.

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On International Youth Day, Democratic Party MP Ina Zhupa dedicated a message to the young people who have been protesting for 74 days, describing them as Albania’s true hope.

According to Zhupa, the protesters are demanding accountability and refuse to accept a reality that forces their friends, peers and cousins to leave the country in order to secure a better future.

The Democratic MP emphasized that young people have risen to take the country’s fate into their own hands, opposing corruption, injustice, the lack of opportunities, the arrogance of those in power and a system that has closed its doors to them. They are also protesting against treating Albania as spoils for the prime minister’s whims and desires.

In her statement, Ina Zhupa said that hope springs from the younger generation and that, precisely on International Youth Day, faith in Albania comes from the young people who have not given up.

She stressed that this protest is not only about the present, but also about the Albania in which young people want to live in the future and their right to decide for themselves what the country should be like tomorrow.

Even after 74 days, despite fatigue, pressure and the indifference of those in power, they continue to stand their ground. For Zhupa, Albania’s true hope is a young generation that, instead of leaving, rises up; that does not choose silence, but demands the right to decide its own future.

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At the protest held outside the Prime Minister’s Office, News24 journalist Osman Stafa addressed participants with a powerful speech that was interrupted several times by cheers from the crowd.

In his speech, Stafa focused on corruption, the population exodus and the difficulties facing the healthcare system, while urging citizens not to end their resistance.

The journalist said the 73 days of protest constitute the greatest and most beautiful “World Cup” in the country’s history because the battle is being waged for Albania and against the corruption that has brought it to its knees. According to him, the eagle has always been seen on the flag, but the protesters are the real eagles. He stressed that even if only one participant remains in the square, that person deserves to be honored, while calling on those present not to be swayed by words and to continue standing firm.

Stafa said the square was packed as never before and noted that August is usually a month for vacations, not protests. He asked what had been done to Albania that had forced Albanians to rise up for their country in the middle of summer, adding that the cup is now full and cannot hold any more.

According to him, a system has been created in which honesty is seen as madness: if you become a director or minister and do not steal, you are considered a fool. He said citizens want an Albania without corruption or theft, where there is no depopulation and where education and healthcare function properly.

The journalist described it as tragic for people to see their brother, father or mother at the end of their life without having access to cancer medication. He said there are around 3,000 people with cancer in Albania who lack palliative care and compassion.

Stafa said that when mothers, women or girls need therapy, they are told to wait for it “until the end of the year,” asking whether cancer can wait. He added that officials send their own relatives abroad, while Albanians face being given the runaround and the double pain of illness and being unable to do anything about it.

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Protesters have begun marching from Skënderbej Square toward the Prime Minister’s Office, holding the 73rd rally against Edi Rama’s government.

During the march along the boulevard, citizens are carrying banners and chanting against the government. Their main demand continues to be the prime minister’s resignation.

The organizers and protesters have announced that the resistance will continue in the coming days. Meanwhile, the protests are expected to grow with the participation of Albanians from the diaspora.

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At the peak of the tourist season, Ina Zhupa, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Culture and the Diaspora, has raised concerns about the lack of drinking water in Sarandë and Ksamil.

According to her, residents, businesses and tourists are being forced to obtain water through bottles, containers and water tankers. Zhupa has described this reality as “tanker tourism,” pointing out that the lack of sustained investment in the water-supply network has left a recurring problem unresolved, despite the water sources surrounding Sarandë.

She argues that the crisis affects not only the water supply, but also the image of the two destinations, the local economy and the standard of tourism services.

Water-tanker tourism in Sarandë and Ksamil, 2026!

During the busiest days of the season, water tankers can be seen everywhere in Sarandë and Ksamil. The lack of drinking-water supplies has made them the only solution for residents, businesses and tourists.

Although Sarandë is located near water sources, the city still does not provide a regular water supply. Zhupa says this has happened because of a lack of willingness to make serious investments in water-supply infrastructure, even though a solution to the problem has been promised in every local and national election.

According to her, the problem is not limited to the lack of water. It represents a crisis for quality tourism and damages the image of Sarandë and Ksamil, the area’s economy and citizens’ lives. Instead of a modern destination, tourists are being offered a reality reliant on bottles, containers and water tankers.

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Krujë police have arrested 73-year-old Qemal Berhami in the act on suspicion of starting a fire near his home to burn grass. Fanned by strong winds, the flames grew out of control and spread rapidly toward Krujë Mountain, endangering residential areas.

The incident occurred on August 8 in the “Abaze” neighborhood. Police suspect that the 73-year-old, a resident of the area, had started a fire to burn a quantity of grass near his home.

Faced with the risk of the flames spreading, police officers and emergency services intervened to protect residents. As part of the safety measures, people near the fire were also partially evacuated.

Efforts to extinguish the fire are continuing on the ground, with vehicles and personnel, as well as aerial intervention. The aim is to contain the fire hotspots and prevent the flames from spreading toward residential areas.

After the investigative procedures were completed, the case materials concerning the 73-year-old were referred to the Prosecutor’s Office for the criminal offense of “Destruction of Property by Fire.” Police urged citizens to exercise the utmost caution and not to start fires to burn grass or waste, as doing so could have serious consequences for lives, property, and the environment.

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