TIRANA – As the National Theater has already been demolished the opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader, Lulzim Basha has turned to his old rhetoric of threats against the government of PM Edi Rama warning its removal.
“Opposition will undertake all the steps which are needed for removing the actual government. We need the support of all citizens to oust Rama,” said Basha at the end of a meeting with chairwoman of Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), Monika Kryemadhi and other DP officials where it was agreed that opposition would support further nationwide protests on Sunday.
For more than two years actors, activists and the opposition have contested plans by Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama to build a new theatre, saying the existing building was part of the country’s heritage, and accused him of corrupt practices.
In the meantime Prime Minister Edi Rama made the focus of his criticism on Sunday director Edmond Budina, who was one of the most active opponents of the demolition of the theater.
Budina lashed out at police officers saying they must be ashamed of the violence they had used. He made that statement on Sunday morning as he was released from custody.
The Premier said that swearing is not art, libel is not cultural heritage and democracy is not absurd theater. Moreover, Rama underlined that Budina has the right to dictate his will on government, municipality and Theater community.
It is not for you to swear, insult and slander because swearing and insults are not art and slander is not cultural heritage and democracy is not absurd theater, said the government head.
A political analyst said Sunday’s event is another evidence that the current premier has an upper hand in Albania and opposition’s behavior in events like this reveal its weakness to react something which has caused confusion even in the ranks of the so called united opposition. A close look at the course of last days’ events brings to surface the shrinking of Basha’s followers as many are disappointed by his maximalist threats which turn into nothing. /argumentum.al