Albanian Culture Minister defends $4 million Kanye West concert financing amid protests

Albanian Minister of Tourism and Culture Blendi Gonxhja told a parliamentary committee that the €4 million budget allocated for the Kanye West concert would be charged to those protesters who attempted to disrupt the event. He warned that any “nipt” (legal action) would shift the cost of the concert onto the demonstrators, describing the protesters as a “herd of idiots” throwing stones and tiles at the parliament.

In the same committee meeting, Gonxhja addressed a separate request from international pop star Jennifer Lopez, who sought a €2 million guarantee against potential protests. The minister rejected the demand, stating that the government could not provide such a guarantee and emphasizing the financial and security risks of the request.