Political scientist Altin Gjeta has assessed that the protest for Zvërnec has produced a significant political and social effect, undermining the legitimacy of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the current political elite.
According to him, the scale of the civic mobilization has overturned the perception of Rama's political invincibility and has created a wave of reaction that, according to him, will continue even if the protests are temporarily suspended.
The protests over Zvërnec began as opposition to a project to build a tourist resort in the protected area of Zvërnec and the Narta Lagoon, in the vicinity of Vlora. Protesters and environmental activists argue that the project endangers the area's ecosystem, biodiversity and public access to the coast, while demanding the cancellation of the project and the protection of one of the most important natural areas in Albania.
"This protest has severely damaged the legitimacy of Prime Minister Rama and the existing political elite. Not only because of its size, but because it has overthrown or broken the myth of Edi Rama's invincibility. This has created an avalanche effect in Albanian society and the diaspora and I am convinced that if this protest ceases tomorrow, it will be reactivated after 2 weeks, 2 months. It is an unstoppable process. There is no turning back... I think it will create a situation that will be unstable and will force Rama to resign. Albania will find itself at a critical moment because there is no consensus on the legitimacy of this political elite," Gjeta declared in Interaktiv.
He also criticized the statements of the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, regarding the developments in Albania, describing them as inappropriate in the current political circumstances. According to Gjeta, her stance has given support to Prime Minister Rama at a time when there is a broad citizen reaction against the government.
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Protesters in Albania believe that several major objectives have been achieved
"There was a statement by Commissioner Marta Kos that was scandalous because she offered a lifeline to the Prime Minister at a time when thousands of Albanians poured into the squares of Tirana. The Commissioner emphasized that she had received guarantees from the Albanian government that EU directives on the relationship between development and nature protection would be implemented, while this government has adopted a law that paves the way for such projects and has amended the law on protected areas to enable construction in protected areas. Making a totally irresponsible statement at a time when the Prime Minister is facing a popular reaction, based on facts that prove that the government has amended the law on protected areas, has preferentially offered investors and other actors to build in protected areas, there is a major problem in Kos' perception of the reality of political developments in Albania," he said.
Protests in Albania on Tuesday, June 17, have entered their 18th day. Citizens usually gather every day at 18:00 PM, and amid calls for the protection of the areas, the resignation of Prime Minister Rama is also being demanded.
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