Albanian Tirana protestists demand Rama’s resignation, issue embassy letter and plan parallel government

Protesters gathered in Tirana have drafted a public letter addressed to Western diplomatic missions in Albania, listing a series of demands and calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. The letter was signed by dozens of participants, including Sidorela Vatkinaj and Etleva Merko. Vatkinaj said the signatories acted out of personal safety concerns, not to form a “coordinating group”, adding, “It is not related to the creation of an organised leadership”. Merko said she signed to make the protest’s demands official without having faced any threats.

In the fourth week of the demonstration, turnout has fallen but the protest has attracted foreign participants – a drunken English tourist and a group of Moldovan women near the “Selvia” area. Police interventions have escalated, seizing protester belongings. Organisers are now promoting a “technical government” announced via WhatsApp, proposing a National Assembly and an Executive Council to replace the elected parliament. The plan, inspired by Dritan Goxhaj’s manifesto, sets candidate criteria such as “no fear” and knowledge of Skënderbeu. It also mentions the intended return of luxury vehicles seized for unpaid taxes.