Rama attacks protesters: “Fascists! Foreign tourists are cancelling reservations, you have caused serious damage”

With a harsh tone, Rama denounces the protesters for spreading a “fascist spirit,” calling the authors of online pressure and threats “hajvanë” (fools), referring to social media platforms that the prime minister still cannot fully control.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, more than the demands of the protesters in the square and the problems of Albanians, is concerned about foreigners coming to Albania.

The head of government says that the protesters are causing serious damage to the country, as tourists are cancelling reservations.

According to him, this situation is directly affecting local businesses, the family economy, and the income the country gains from tourism.

“I have received many messages, but of course I cannot come out and use this to say: ‘Will you stop the protest because your heart hurts for hotels?!’ However, on the other hand, I cannot remain silent and say that in both Vlora and Durrës there have been protests by tourism operators, awareness-raising protests.”

In Vlora, around 95% of those who own hotels, restaurants, and bars have joined a awareness protest, asking for understanding so that the season is not harmed, because it represents a direct impact on the household economy of many people linked to tourism, as well as a direct impact on the local economy and the national economy as a whole.

Meaning, if we were to stop the money that normally comes into Albania during a calm tourist season, I do not know who that would benefit.

If there is an agenda of protests aimed at obstructing Albania from all sides, and through obstruction creating frustration and then making people say: “Come on, let’s remove this government just to be left in peace,” then that is not a new agenda. It is an agenda that has been used in other countries, and it has also been used here by the “molotov throwers,” but it will not work. The damage will certainly be significant, also unnecessary in my opinion.

Another very unpleasant symptom is bullying of people on Facebook and Instagram.

I have seen with great regret how a singer like Ylli Limani, a singer loved by many people (not my favorite singer, I belong to another generation and have different musical tastes), but he is a very respected and popular singer who held an extraordinary concert in Tirana, has been “massacred” with insults, pressure, and threats to cancel the concert and to deny people the pleasure of having a beautiful musical moment, because people want to focus on the protest.

Rama also says he is concerned about recent developments, emphasizing that a component he described as a “fascist spirit” is being observed in them.

“Another disgusting symptom is bullying of people on social networks. I have seen with regret how a singer like Ylli Limani, very respected and very popular, has been ‘massacred’ with insults, pressure, threats to cancel his concert! People who have a different opinion receive insults and threats. There is a fascist component, a fascist spirit, which does not need uniforms and weapons.

The fascist spirit is ‘Albania for Albanians,’ others are not welcome. It is unacceptable that a group of people imposes itself on the rest, saying either you think like us or we will harm, bully, threaten. This is fascist, scandalous, and it must be stopped by not giving in to these kinds of fools,” said the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, under the calls “Rama resign,” today again thousands of citizens are expected to gather for the 15th protest, demanding the Prime Minister’s departure.

Under the slogan “Albania is not for sale, our voice, our dignity, our future is not for sale,” citizens will gather as usual in “Skanderbeg” Square and then begin a march towards the Prime Minister’s Office, where for hours activists and citizens deliver speeches and express dissatisfaction with the political class.

“KORÇA BOOM”