Today at 18:00, the opposition starts civil disobedience until the departure of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Contrary to established tradition, there will be no political speeches and the march will start from the government building to extend to some of the main streets of Tirana.
According to DP leaders, on October 7, the citizens have the floor. Although the democrats are reserved about their scenario, it is learned that the target of the protesters is expected to be the Municipality of Tirana, where the democrats have been protesting in front of its building for months. The main point of departure of the protesters will be from the blue headquarters to then march towards the Prime Minister’s Office, while the rest will join the rally from other points according to the organization that has been made by the PD structures in the districts. After gathering in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, the protesters will disperse to different areas in order to block the main streets of the capital.
Together with the PD, its allies, Ilir Meta, Fatmir Mediu, Agron Duka and Vangjel Dule, will be on the square, while Lulzim Basha, Enkelejd Alibeaj and Dashamir Shehi will not participate, as they believe that this is not it is the best strategy against the government led by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The October 7 protest was scheduled after the imprisonment of former deputy Ervin Salianji, but the start of the revolt was announced earlier by the Democratic Party, which states that with Edi Rama at the head of the government, there are no free and fair elections. For this reason, the opposition has warned that the protests will continue until the departure of the majority leader and the creation of a technical government, to lead the country to elections. In the last 11 years, the PD has tried several radical actions against the Rama government and the socialist majority, starting from the tent that lasted 3 months before the Prime Minister in 2017 to the burning of mandates, the boycott of local elections and hundreds of protests against the government. It remains to be seen whether or not this new action will bring the opposition victory over the SP and Edi Rama in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
For more than a week, DP structures, in addition to preparations for the upcoming elections, have mobilized the Democrats for Monday’s National protest, which will also be a form of civil disobedience. The democrats in this protest want to put pressure on the majority for the establishment of a technical government before the 2025 elections, as well as respect for the country’s Constitution, which, according to the democrats, was violated by the majority for the mandate of MP Olta Xhaçka. DP leaders emphasize that without a technical government there cannot be safe elections, warning of the manipulation of the electoral process about eight months before it happens. Although there had been rumors within the DP for several months about holding national anti-government protests, the opposition’s action took concrete form after the prison sentence of Ervin Salinji. This action started in the Assembly, with the burning of the opposition’s chairs, and will continue in the field. But, while for the action in the Assembly they emphasize that it will be continuous, for the other front on the ground, the PD is still not clear how it will continue after Monday’s protest.
POLICE
About 1200 police officers will be engaged in the field for the protest called by the opposition on Monday afternoon. It is learned that in addition to the structures of order in the Police of Tirana, FNSH, RENEA and the Guard of the Republic will be on standby. The latter will be positioned in the interior of the institutions of special importance located on the “Dëşmorët e Kombit” boulevard, near the Prime Minister’s Office. Officially, the opposition has requested permission from the police for a 4-hour rally in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. But despite this, the protest is expected to extend to other areas of Tirana and the duration is unclear. To anticipate any possible scenario, the blue uniforms are expected to install smart cameras in some of the axes where the protest is expected to extend. Also, water trucks will be on standby. As part of the measures taken, the police have programmed the blocking of several main roads in the capital, starting from the Ministry of the Interior to “Mother Teresa” square and the branches related to it. Restrictions are expected in other segments as well, depending on the development of the gathering.
The completion of this gathering is considered extremely important for the blue uniforms of the capital, which yesterday afternoon were gathered by the general director of the Police, Ilir Proda, to receive the last orders for the opposition protest. The State Police published yesterday the plan of measures, in order to guarantee order and security. The police announcement states that at 18:00, until the end of the rally, there will be a traffic jam on “Dëshmorët e Kombit” boulevard from the intersection of the Ministry of the Interior to “Mother Teresa” square and on the streets: “Free Ukraine”, “Pope John Paul II” and “Ismail Qemali”. Since the opposition has warned that the protest will extend to all the streets of Tirana, the police informed that depending on the development of the rally, there may be restrictions on the circulation of vehicles and on some road axes of the capital. Also, the State Police appeals to all those who will participate in the rally, to distance themselves from any act that threatens public safety and life and any act of violence against state institutions, public and private property, against police officers, representatives of media and citizens.
