Albanian Prime Minister meets opposition mayors mere hours after violent protests
Photo: Pirro Vengu, Albania Koçiu, Edi Rama, and Arbjan Mazniku in a meeting with mayors to discuss civil emergencies and funding for social services.
Hours after Albania’s Democratic Party (DP) led a violent protest against him, Prime Minister Edi Rama met with mayors, including opposition members, to discuss local governance. The Prime Minister did not comment on the opposition’s claims of civil disobedience or their demand for a technical government. Instead, the focus of the meeting was on practical issues like civil emergencies and social services funding.
Why is this relevant: When calling for a protest, the Democratic Party declared they would sever all institutional ties with the ruling majority. Yet, opposition mayors attended this meeting with the Prime Minister, revealing the disarray and confusion that reins within the ranks of the Democratic Party. Just a day before, during their violent attack on key government buildings, including the Prime Minister’s office, the Democratic Party claimed that these structures were controlled by organized crime.
Context: Two Democratic Party mayors, from the northern municipalities of Fushë Arrëz and Pukë, where the Democrats have strong electoral support, expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister for decisions benefiting their communities. They praised measures related to illegal construction, urban renewal projects, and salary increases for local government employees. This cooperation and dialogue with the government stands in stark contrast to the DP’s violent protest, exposing deep inconsistencies in the party’s approach to opposition. While the DP leadership pushes for civil disobedience and defiance, local representatives seem more focused on working with the government to address practical issues.
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