"Everyone knows what we have done for Albania and the flag" - Rama responds to protesters: What do these patriots want?

2026-06-08 19:09:50Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Prime Minister Edi Rama stopped in Shkodra this Monday, as part of a tour of meetings for the 35th anniversary of the Socialist Party. At the event held at the Shkodra Castle with supporters and members of the Socialist Party, Rama also commented on the recent protests held in Tirana.

Referring to the protesters, the head of government used the symbolism of the legend of Rozafa, saying that just as it was built during the day and demolished at night, even today there are attempts to hinder the country's journey.

He said that many of the protesters were motivated by false information and claims of secret plans that, according to him, do not exist.

"They are trying to bring us down, but everyone sees what we have done for Albania and for the national flag. It is easy to talk about the flag, to take it and tie it around your neck to appear patriotic, but it has nothing to do with patriotism."

It's easier to shout and sing patriotic songs, but it's not at all connected to true patriotism and the flag.

"Patriotism is not using insults or songs to attack those who don't think like you, and not only don't think like you, but are tasked with leading the country, because the majority that doesn't think like you elected them and not you. That's not patriotic," he said.

"What do these patriots want, because you really don't hear anything. There was someone yesterday who said that Edi Rama has deliberately lowered plane tickets so that as many people as possible will take the plane and flee Albania. What do they want now, to increase the prices of plane tickets? Everything is said here and no one is held responsible for what is said.

The environmentalist fever of all Albanians explodes, in the nails, because in fact there are only a few who say 'we are the people, we are Albania'. Get up from the cafes, don't sit still. They don't want to know that the people who are in the cafes may have been at work all day. But they say 'come with us'. For what? Suddenly they woke up one day and everyone became environmentalists, while they demand the salvation of Albania from me and from you.

Where were these people when illegal hunting was rampant in Albania, when protected birds and animals were being killed every day? Where were these people when the law on the import of garbage was in force? Where were these people when the forests had become a place where not a single bird could be heard?

I am not holding accountable those who were 10 years old then, but those who today are trying to hijack this moment of natural concern and this completely legitimate need of citizens who suddenly found themselves faced with an alarm and took to the streets to stop it, because they thought there was a plan to destroy a protected area.

I understand them at first, but I don't understand them when they go after a rhetoric they don't know or don't want to hear, and completely forget who they are facing. When I say who they are facing, I mean myself, our government, our majority, the Socialist Party of Albania.

"They forget that they are facing a force that you can criticize, but no one can say that it has ever betrayed the national interest. It did not do it yesterday, it does not do it today and it will never do it, because the national interest has been an immovable point of reference for us," said Rama.


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