TIRANA, July 5 /ATA/- Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha on Sunday pledged continued support for the anti-government protests that have taken place in Tirana, saying the party stood behind both the demonstrations and the protesters’ demands.
In a video message posted on social media, Berisha praised those who took part in what he described as a nationwide civic protest, comparing it to the events of Feb. 20, 1991, when protesters toppled the statue of former communist dictator Enver Hoxha.
He said demonstrators had staged what he called the “political funeral” of Prime Minister Edi Rama through symbolic acts during Saturday’s protest.
“Last night, hundreds of thousands of protesters symbolically toppled the statue of the narco-dictator Edi Rama outside his offices and staged his political funeral,” Berisha said.
According to Berisha, the protest reflected citizens’ demand for political change and Rama’s resignation.
He called on the Prime Minister to step down and urged the government to meet the protesters’ five key demands, which he said were consistent with the Democratic Party’s positions.
“On behalf of the Democratic Party, I express my gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of Albanians who protested yesterday in such a powerful and impressive way. I assure them that the Democratic Party will continue to stand firmly behind their protest and their demands,” Berisha said.
Berisha also criticised the government’s handling of the demonstrations and called for violence to be avoided.
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