TIRANA, Aug 1 /ATA/ Citizens, activists and members of the Albanian diaspora gathered in the capital on Saturday for the 63rd protest against a planned tourism investment in Zvërnec, while also calling for the government’s resignation and the departure of what they described as the country’s old political class.
After assembling in Skanderbeg Square, protesters marched along Deshmoret e Kombit Boulevard toward the Prime Minister’s Office.
Beyond opposing the planned tourism project in Zvërnec, protesters also advanced a broader political agenda, calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation and changes to Albania’s political system.
Their demands included changes to the electoral law, the repeal of the Strategic Investments Law and the Mountain Package, as well as the reversal of amendments to the laws on protected areas and cultural heritage..
Activist Arben Kola said members of the Albanian diaspora had joined the protest from several European countries, vowing to oppose the current government. A citizen living abroad criticized the lack of opportunities in Albania, saying his children had no future there.
Another activist focused on the territorial reform, saying protests had also been held in other cities against plans to merge several small municipalities. He called for greater decentralization rather than further centralization of local government.
A young protester said the gathering represented a broader goal of showing unity, claiming that the collective voice of citizens had silenced their opponents. He called on the prime minister to resign and accused the government of contributing to depopulation by closing municipalities and neglecting communities of historical importance.
/sm/
