Day 16 of Protests: Citizens Expected to Gather Again in Front of the Prime Minister’s Office

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The protest on Tirana’s Central Boulevard enters its 16th day today, with citizens and activists once again calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

On the evening of the 15th day, the demonstration lasted longer than ever before, continuing for nearly seven hours until the early morning. Protesters marched toward Rinas International Airport but were stopped by police.

The protest, which initially began as a reaction against the planned tourism project in the Pishë Poro–Sazan area, has now evolved into a broader civic movement. The demonstrations were sparked by opposition to the proposed investment in a protected area and later expanded into a wider mobilization of citizens.

Throughout the protests, participants have put forward five main demands: the resignation of the government, the repeal of the legal framework governing strategic investors, the cancellation of the Mountains Package, the reversal of amendments to the Law on Protected Areas, and the repeal of changes to the Law on Cultural Heritage. Demonstrations in Tirana and other cities have also included calls against the entire political establishment.

Organizers have announced that the protests will continue in the coming days, stating that their demands remain unchanged.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has stated that it is closely monitoring developments in the Pishë Poro–Nartë area and has communicated its concerns to Albania’s Ministry of Environment regarding potential shortcomings of the project. Spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said that work on the project has been suspended and that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment is expected to be conducted in consultation with civil society.

At the same time, Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure, SPAK, has launched an investigation into the matter. Prosecutors have frozen the bank accounts of the landowners and placed under seizure $195 million that had reportedly been transferred to them by businessmen from Qatar.

The prosecution office is also reviewing a number of court decisions related to land ownership titles, while legal disputes over land claims in the area are said to remain unresolved.

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