Thousands of Albanians joined Democratic Party (PD) leader Sali Berisha and other members of the PD for an anti-government protest under the banner “Albania is in danger” on Thursday (7 July).
Protestors covered the entirety of Tirana’s main boulevard, from the city center toward Mother Theresa Square. Many bussed into the capital from cities around the country.
The protest unfolded peacefully amid speeches by the chairman of the Democratic Party Youth Forum Belind Këlliçi, and leader of the opposition Socialist Movement for Integration, Monika Kryemadhi.
Këlliçi spoke about the incinerator affair, while Kryemadhi targeted the Open Balkan initiative, calling it an affront to Albania.
Berisha was the last to take the podium, where he called Rama his enemy and swore that he would take back power.
The former Prime Minister also called on the European Union to not punish Albanians for their government’s behavior, but open negotiations.
“This week I hope that the EU decides to open negotiations and I call on them from this platform to open negotiations with Albania, not to punish the Albanians for Edi Rama, who wants everything, but does not want negotiations with the EU, because they they will expose him as he is,” he said.
Berisha has warned that he plans to continue the protests until Rama resigns.
