Speaking during the party’s “Renewal Forum” tour in the southern city of Vlora, Berisha said Democrats would be the ones to “save Albania,” while calling for change at every level of the party.

“Renewal is required from each of us, starting with the chairman,” Berisha said.

He said the party’s organisational model during its period of resistance was no longer sufficient to meet new challenges.

Berisha accused the government of being responsible for demographic decline, poverty and problems related to property rights. He described falling birth rates and emigration as what he called the government’s “most serious wrongdoing.”

Berisha called for a broad process of “renewal” in Albania and urged Democratic Party supporters to mobilise in response to recent political developments.

He also called for the renewal of the party’s structures, with greater participation by young people and women, and urged supporters to join protests in Tirana.

Berisha said repopulating Albania and encouraging Albanians living abroad to return would be central to his proposed governing programme.

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