Nikoll Lesi, editor of Koha Jonë, speaking on the show “Të Paekspozuarit” on Vizion Plus with Ylli Rakipi, stated that protesters should form political parties and defeat the government at the ballot box. He said that on many demands the protesters are right, but they cannot bring down the system outside the electoral process.
“This protest, which began with the flamingos and then continued violently, differs from those in Italy, France and Belgium, because there they have economic demands, while here in Albania they have political demands. They want a new political system and the departure of Rama and Berisha. But in my view, I have asked the protesters on Koha Jonë Debat why they do not create parties and enter the political system. I am convinced they would win many votes, creating the conditions for changing the political system. I have information from both political camps, PS and PD, that they are afraid precisely that students and young people could form a Political Movement and enter the elections. This new Movement would win many votes, but they would have to field public personalities as candidates for deputies to represent them in parliament, and not like some ‘kalamaj’ that PS or PD have today, deputies who don’t even know how to speak, or who, when they speak, need permission from the party. A deputy must have personality and integrity. If they do this, I think they will go down in history as people who changed the traditional political system. But I repeat: burning with fire and destroying everything in their path is wrong and turns into a punishable criminal offense.
In my view, the protest now is a conglomerate, which includes visionary, courageous students, young people who want change, but there are also members of criminal gangs who set fires, as well as poor but righteous citizens who really are right in most things and have difficult living conditions. They see no guarantees for their future. I stress that I am not in favor of violent protests and the burning of private property, nor of public property.
I think Prime Minister Rama was more afraid of the flamingo protest, where at times there were tens of thousands of people, than of this violent protest that has been happening these days. I asked the leaders of the flamingo protest why they do not stay in the square day and night until a political solution comes, forcing the prime minister toward a political solution. Register as “New Albania” on the ballot, Lesi stated.
Lesi further said that the prime minister, as far as he can see, will not be toppled by violent protests. The EU and the American embassy openly condemned the violent protests. So, as we wrap up for tonight, I can say that if they return to peaceful protest, there will be many people, and I will join them too, but they must remain resistant in the square in front of the Prime Minister’s office, day and night. The “revolution” they are seeking needs determination and steadfastness; I repeat, day and night in front of the Prime Minister’s office, because the prime minister is really afraid of this. This forces him to go to elections, when society rises up entirely peacefully. So I think, although insults will start on social networks, young people, and especially students, should be supported, but never with violence. That is what I think.