TIRANA, Jan 10 /ATA/ – Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha announced Saturday that Albania’s opposition will stage a protest on January 24, describing it as an effort to unite opposition forces behind the goal of removing the Socialist government.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of DP’s leadership, Berisha said the protest was not intended to seize power through violence but to express public anger and send a clear message calling for the government’s resignation. He described the current administration as a “narco-state”, a term he has repeatedly used to criticise the current government.
Berisha said public anger toward the government was “extraordinary”, adding that the opposition was determined to continue its campaign until the government is removed and what he described as corruption and the misuse of public funds are exposed.
He sought to assure the public that the Jan. 24 protest would be peaceful and would not resemble the deadly protests of Jan. 21, 2011.
“The opposition has only one weapon: protest, in all its forms,” Berisha said. “I have never taken power through violence,” he added.
Berisha said participation in the protest was not tied to party positions and called on individuals, civil society groups and political forces that have not taken part in recent opposition meetings to join what he described as a broad opposition front.
He said recent developments within the opposition camp were positive and argued that sustained protests were the only viable path to political change, adding that the opposition front aims to unite all forces opposing the government in a nationwide effort to change the country’s political situation.
/r.e/u.sh/
