The protest organized by civil society organizations and ordinary citizens entered its fourth day on Saturday as citizens gathered again in the boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit” in front of the headquarters of the Prime Minister to oppose the price increase in Albania.
In the capital Tirana, protesters first gathered at “Skanderbeg” Square, and then continued the march to the Prime Minister’s Office. With placards in hands, they called for measures to reduce food and fuel prices. The target of the accusations was Prime Minister Edi Rama and protesters shouted ‘Rama go!’.
Determined to continue the protests until a solution is reached, speakers from civil society and ordinary citizens said that “this is a protest for the dignity of Albanians, and not for seats and power.”
Activist and pedagogue Ervin Goci said that “we demand a price ceiling, tax abolition, breaking monopolies, control over resources and to activate a company that competes in the market.”
Actor Florian Binaj said that “we are here today for each other, for those who do not get what they deserve, for those who have left the country because there is no place for professionals. We are here today for those who work with dignity and live in misery. We are for our children.”
At the end of the two-hour protest in front of the government building, which was surrounded by large number of police forces, the protesters announced that they will gather again on Monday and they will start the march at “Skanderbeg” Square at 11:00 in the morning to arrive again in front of the government building.
Some groups of protesters marched to the police station where dozens of protesters detained two days ago have been put in jail.
Meanwhile, there were protests in other cities of the country, and the protesters blocked for several minutes the Lezha-Lac highway, near the intersection of Shënkolli. Citizens also protested in Pogradec and Berat on Saturday. No incidents are reported. /Argumentum.al