TIRANA, July 2 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said in an interview with Deutsche Welle that there is no “breakdown in trust” in Albania, describing recent protests as a normal part of democratic life.
Responding to questions from journalist Kate Laycock, Rama said the developments do not reflect institutional instability and reiterated that resignation is not an option.
“Resignation has not been, is not, and will not be an option,” Rama said, adding that his mandate from voters is to complete EU accession negotiations.
He said he was elected with the support of 868,000 voters to lead the country through the final stage of European Union accession talks.
Asked about a planned investment project in Zvërnec, Rama said it is still under development and aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, which he described as important for broader economic transformation.
Rama also said Albania remains committed to EU environmental standards, adding that any legislative changes will be assessed during accession negotiations with Brussels.
He said his government’s broader goal is to deliver projects that are “important for Albania and a contribution to Europe,” while highlighting ongoing reforms and the role of artificial intelligence in public administration.
The interview also covered Albania’s EU integration process and challenges facing democracies in a rapidly changing global environment.
Read the full interview of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s interview with Deutsche Welle:
Journalist:
Prime Minister Edi Rama, we’re here in the Jahrhunderthalle and I’ve just heard you give a keynote speech talking about AI and democracy, power and governance. Albania has a big injection of cash expected, we’re talking about 4 billion euros coming from tourism developments on the coastline. I suppose my question that I’d like to open with is, what role will AI play in the oversight of making sure that we know where that money is going to go?
PM Rama:
I don’t see the connection between both, but what can I say is that through artificial intelligence we can give ourselves every day more knowledge and we can take advantage from having an assistance that is absolutely unimaginable in the capacities to inform us, in the capacities to advise us. So this is where it will go.
Journalist:
What about the question of trust? You talked about the architecture of power, at the moment in Albania there is a breakdown in trust in that architecture. Demonstrators are talking about a lack of democratic, a lack of public consultation and oversight. How are you going to reassure them that that is in place?
PM Rama:
In Albania there is not a breakdown of trust, in Albania there is a beautiful example of freedom, of democracy in action, of boulevard that belongs to people from all ways of life, that have their own point, that they want their voices to be heard. So this is credit to Albania and this is not a problem for Albania.
Journalist:
I would love to talk to you about beauty, because as an artist you understand the importance of beauty and you understand how the public transformation of space can change the way that a nation feels about itself. If the future of Albania looks like a Trump-Kushner luxury resort, what does that say about the Albania that you are creating?
PM Rama:
First of all, I can be lectured about many things, about economy, about legal affairs, about agriculture, about health care, but there is one thing that nobody can lecture me about, which is beauty, and not because I’m an artist, but because I served as Minister of Culture, I served as Mayor and I am serving as Prime Minister exactly basing my whole thinking on beauty and transformation of public space and transformation of urban spaces has been part of my path. And if Albania today is welcoming 12 million tourists, it’s thanks to that effort. So beauty is something that I believe in, it’s something I fight for.
Now, you bring names here, because you are prejudicial. I’m not able to answer. Let me finish.
I’m not able to answer, because you bring names. How a project by Trump and Kushner may look like? What is this question? How one can answer? I’m not bringing nor the one either the other as a project. The project is being developed and when the project will be ready, then we’ll discuss about the project.
We’ll not discuss about people, about characters and about ideological fight with people. These are your fights, you can make them, but this is not my fight. My fight is to bring in Albania foreign direct investment. My fight is to make happen developments that will be absolutely not simply great for Albania, but will be a gift to Europe.
Journalist:
Is the privatisation of public space something that you are, is that a price that you are prepared to pay for this transformation?
PM Rama:
This is another lie that is being told intensively and has become a fact that you are now using to make a question, because there is no privatisation of public space. Simple. There is not. It’s a lie.
Journalist:
You can guarantee that everybody will have access?
PM Rama:
It’s not that I can guarantee it. What I can guarantee is that we live in a civilisation that since the Romans have made a very simple decision, who makes accusation has to come with the proof. Now you are a journalist, right? And you are here to inform your audience. And your question is based in a lie.
And you ask me guarantee. While you have to show me where is the privatisation and where is any hint you have found that makes you worried that will be privatisation of public land. It will not. It has never happened. It will not happen.
Journalist:
In 2024, Albania’s environmental protection laws were changed in order to pave the way for luxury hotel tourism. And that is something that has concerned people in Albania, together with their concerns about the absence of public consultation. What would be your response to those concerns?
PM Rama:
I think that, again, facts are very important. But again, facts are left aside. Because yes, we have made changes in the law. But guess what? We didn’t change the substance of the law. And our changes are not in breach with European standards and criteria, which we will make sure to be verified through a process that has to do with our negotiations. So again, prejudices are not arguments. And insinuations are not facts. And facts. It’s the only thing I have. If you have facts to challenge my facts, please bring me. But if you have prejudices, and if you have ideological fights to make with Trump, and if you have other things in mind, you are free to have them. But I cannot help you with my answers.
Journalist:
You spoke in your keynote speech about digital outrage. You coined the words anger rhythm. And you also spoke about your government’s very positive experience of the use of AI, including the introduction of a minister who is herself an algorithm AI. If we are in a situation where we have good algorithmic use, and what you have termed as bad algorithmic use, or even dangerous algorithmic use, where does that lead us? Does that lead us to a situation of government control of algorithms?
PM Rama:
There is not such a thing like good algorithmic use. Because algorithm does not like boring truth. Algorithm loves entertaining lies. Algorithm doesn’t like nuances. Algorithm likes scandal. Algorithm doesn’t like peace and love. Algorithm likes anger and fear. Because it’s the human nature that is more attracted to all this. And it’s not for me to say how this can be solved in a democratic society like Europe, but I think that Europe and the democratic world is making a mistake that can be one day the reason of the end of democracy, which is accepting the freedom of reach as an extension of the freedom of speech. Freedom of reach is not freedom of speech.
Freedom of reach is what dictatorships had as their most lethal weapon against freedom. To go in every brain and to see their truth by suppressing every other truth. Algorithm doesn’t need to suppress with secret police or with controlled judges. Algorithm suppress through suffocation and through amplification. Amplifying lies, suffocating truth. Every study says that what is rewarded in the social media is lies. What is less accepted is truth.
Journalist:
Prime Minister Edi Rama, thank you very much for talking to me.
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