PD deputy Luçiano Boçi has commented on political developments in Albania, the student protests and the situation within the Democratic Party, linking the political future of Prime Minister Edi Rama to recent developments in Serbia. According to Boçi, the weakening of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is an important signal for Albanian politics and could accelerate Rama’s departure from power.
“If Rama intended to remain in power until 2029, I think Vučić’s fall has accelerated his political end”, the Democratic deputy said on “News 24”, arguing that civic resistance and the continuation of protests show a growing dissatisfaction with the government.
Boçi assessed that citizens’ reaction to police measures, especially during the student protests, has not weakened the movement but, in his view, has strengthened the determination of protesters. “The police violence against the student protests has been unmatched compared to previous cases. […] But the opposite has happened: citizens and students have grown in number, while their resistance has become stronger”, he stated.
Another issue the deputy addressed was the opposition’s demand for the creation of a technical government, which he considers a necessary step to guarantee free and fair elections. Boçi accused the government of having built a mechanism that, according to his claims, influences the electoral process through control of the administration and suspicious political and economic ties.
“The process begins with the creation of a technical government, because the demand on Rama is similar to what was done to Vučić: to allow free and fair elections”, Boçi said. He also stressed the importance of unity between the political opposition and the citizens protesting, arguing that social dissatisfaction is not limited only to opposition supporters. “I have said even earlier that in the Balkans there existed a kind of political tango between Rama and Vučić. The fall of one has automatically weakened the other”, he stated.
Referring to the prime minister’s reaction to the protests, the Democratic deputy claimed that threatening rhetoric and repressive measures are no longer able to restrain citizens. According to him, the participation of students and teachers is a sign of a deeper political and social problem. “When students react and teachers join them, this shows that the government is facing a serious problem”, Boçi said.