TIRANA, July 14 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said in an interview with Euronews Serbia that the current protests in Albania represent far more than the specific issue that has brought people into the streets, describing them as a sign the country has entered a new stage of development, with citizens demanding higher standards and faster progress.
“The protest is about much more than the issue itself. It’s not just about the flamingos. It’s much more than that. It is a signal that the country has reached another level, that development has become the norm and that people are no longer willing to tolerate what is lacking,” PM Rama said.
He said Albanians were becoming increasingly less willing to accept shortcomings, as rising expectations accompany improving living standards.
“People are becoming less and less tolerant of what is missing. That’s why they want more. They want it now. And we cannot blame them for that. This is the price we pay for our success. In my view, these protests are an expression of rising expectations, and we have to respond to them,” he added.
Rama argued that higher living standards lie at the heart of such protests.
“Whatever people call them, and however harsh the criticism may be, the underlying reason is that people are living better. And because they are living better, they expect much more. Poor societies tend to have a very high tolerance for what they lack. Developed societies, and those moving in that direction, have a much lower threshold for what they consider acceptable. People want what is still missing,” he said.
The government head said the shift also reflects a broader change in public mindset.
/u.sh/
