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Former Socialist Party MP Marjana Koçeku, who now serves as an independent MP, joined the protest held in Tirana this Saturday, where citizens are demanding the removal of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
From the photos published from the square, MP Koçeku is seen standing next to the protesting citizens.
Her participation in the rally was previously announced through a video posted on social media, announcing that she would be in the square on the 49th day of the anti-government protest.
Koçek left the Socialist Party parliamentary group, declaring that she could no longer be part of the majority and that she would continue her mandate as an independent MP representing the citizens.
After announcing his departure from the SP, Koçek accused Rama of using criminal groups to threaten him.
Since leaving the Socialist Party, she has sided with the protesters, supporting their demands for political change and the removal of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Activist Edison Lika has issued strong accusations against the government during the 49th citizen protest in front of the Prime Minister's Office, denouncing what he described as a campaign of pressure by the Tax Administration against farmers and businesses at the height of the tourist season.
According to Lika, Tax inspectors are carrying out checks and threats that are preventing farmers from selling their products, while also exerting pressure on businesses on the south coast.
" Many farmers who sell watermelons and melons on the highway connecting Durrës with Lushnje, Divjaka and Kavaja are facing interference from the Tax Authorities, who are not letting them sell their products. Tax authorities have also targeted businesses on the southern coast. They are also threatening to close their businesses and seize their computers there ," he declared.
The activist called on farmers, entrepreneurs, and all citizens who, according to him, feel hurt by the government's actions, to join the protest.
" We invite all businessmen and farmers to join the square of resistance, because only in this way will we stop these predatory thugs. Only from this square will democracy and equality emerge ," said Edison Lika.
One of the participants in the civic protest, which has been taking place for 49 days in front of the Prime Minister's Office, praised the atmosphere and participation in the rally, describing it as special.
During his speech, he stated that the civic protest is unprecedented and that, according to him, there is no other similar one.
" There is no more beautiful protest than this. Not even in the world. This is the most beautiful square ," declared the protester.
He then addressed the political class, demanding change and calling on the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, to step down from leading the opposition.
" You, Berisha, resign, you are sold out to Rama. We have seen Rama ," he said during the protest.
The civic protest has entered its 49th day today, while organizers have stated that the rallies will continue until the protesters' demands are met.
The anti-government protest continued today for the 49th consecutive day, with citizens gathering in front of the Prime Minister's Office demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. During the rally, several protesters took the floor, calling for continued mobilization and the unity of Albanians at home and abroad.
One of the protesters said that the rally has restored hope to citizens and called on all participants not to retreat until their demands are met.
"This square, these wonderful people and everyone else who has come from every corner have given us hope that we will take Albania back from those who usurped us. Let's overthrow this dictatorship. You have not surrendered and we will not surrender until we achieve our goal," said another protester.
An Albanian immigrant also spoke at the protest, saying that the diaspora supports this movement and that it will be part of the change that, according to him, is required in the country.
"I come from the diaspora. The diaspora supports you. We will be part of the protest, part of the great change," he said.
He further focused on the role of the diaspora, the need for a state that serves its citizens, and recalled his involvement in the student movement of 1990.
"I come from the Diaspora. The Diaspora supports you. We will be part of the protest, part of the great change. This people has suffered and needs a new state that serves the sovereign and not these oligarchs. I am part of the student movement of the 90s, we did not achieve what we had as an idea, we wanted a European Albania, but state agencies got in the way ," he said.
The protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama has entered its 49th day, as citizens continue to gather in the square demanding his resignation. Organizers emphasize that the demand remains unchanged and that the protest will continue until this objective is achieved.
During the rally, activist Edison Lika declared that the movement will not hold negotiations outside of the protest and that, according to him, the voice of citizens is only represented in the square and not in offices.
"Today it has been shown that this society can no longer be brought into offices. It will only be in the squares. Anyone who claims that with this protest they can negotiate in offices is wrong, with this protest they can only negotiate in the square. The representatives of the protest are in the square and whoever thinks they can represent it is wrong. This protest needs a solution and not representation. Can it be negotiated with the revolution? We are only coming together to surround Edi Rama and this corrupt-criminal system ," he said.
Meanwhile, another citizen expressed his determination that Albanians must overthrow the dictatorship, emphasizing that corruption is widespread in every state institution.
This is the revolution of the Albanians. It has included young people, but also children. Corruption starts at the police station, in the prime minister, in parliament, everywhere! We must overthrow this dictatorship. Revolution. United! ”, he said.
One of the activists of the civic protest, which has been taking place in front of the Prime Minister's Office for 49 days, has recalled the main demands that, according to her, have united citizens in this movement.
During her speech, she emphasized that the protest does not have just one demand, but a complete platform of political and institutional changes, starting with the removal of the current government.
According to the activist, the first and non-negotiable point is the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the entire government, followed by the creation of a transitional government with a 12-month mandate, which will have as its mission the implementation of constitutional reforms and guaranteeing the equality of citizens before the law.
She also listed as her main demands the amendment of the Electoral Code and the law on the financing of political parties, as well as the establishment of a limitation on the prime minister's term to no more than two terms.
In her speech, the activist also focused on issues related to the environment and property, demanding the repeal of laws that, according to the protesters, have harmed the public interest.
" We demand the cancellation of the laws on protected areas, cultural heritage, the 'Mountain Package' and strategic investments. These are the points that citizens have put forward and for which the protest continues ," she said.
The civic protest has entered its 49th day today, while the organizers have declared that the rallies will continue until their demands are met.
Citizens gather again in front of the Prime Minister's Office: "Rama, resign!"
Citizens gathered again this Saturday in front of the Prime Minister's Office building, on the 49th day of their protest, continuing their demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the removal of the entire political caste.
What started as a reaction against the project in the Zvërnec protected area has now transformed into a broad civic movement, with protesters accusing the government of corruption, mismanagement, and institutional capture, while demanding a change in the political system.
Hundreds of citizens have initially gathered at "Skënderbej" Square, and will then march towards the Prime Minister's Office building. As in previous days, the rally will be accompanied by speeches by activists and citizens, who will denounce, according to them, the failures of the government, the economic situation and the standard of living in the country.
The protesters have made it clear that they will not back down until Prime Minister Edi Rama resigns. At the same time, they are demanding the resignation of Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha, as well as the entire political class that, they say, has held the country hostage for more than three decades.
Today's protest is also expected to be accompanied by cheers, patriotic songs and banners with ironic messages directed at the government and politics. Cries such as "Rama go!", "Berisha go!", "Everyone go!", "Down with the political caste!", "We love Albania like all of Europe!", "Resign!" and "The end has come!" have already become the main slogans of this movement.
Meanwhile, the organizers have also announced an important change in the protest calendar. Instead of the usual afternoon rally in front of the Prime Minister's Office, on July 23 the protest will take place in the morning in front of the Albanian Parliament, at the same time as the last plenary session of this parliamentary session.
According to the organizers, the presence of citizens in front of Parliament during the session aims to exert more pressure on MPs before the Parliament closes for the summer recess.
After 49 consecutive days in the square, the organizers insist that the protest will continue every day until its demands are met, while calling on citizens to also join the announced protest in front of the Parliament on July 23.
The gathering of protesters in "Skënderbej" Square has begun for the 49th consecutive day.
The main demand of this movement, which has filled Skanderbeg Square and Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard for weeks, remains unchanged: the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the complete removal of what the protesters consider a "political caste", which according to them has held the country hostage for more than three decades.
An elderly man called on citizens from across the country to join the protest, describing this moment as crucial.
"Come on Albanians, gather here. Come to protest. As that Serbian minister said, she talked about cleansing Albanians. So come on Albanians, gather here, today or never!", he said.
A pensioner raised concerns about the level of pensions and called for the establishment of a living wage, saying that many elderly people cannot even afford basic expenses.
"I protest that the minimum living wage be established. Our pension doesn't even cover medicine. We help our children. Neither Berisha nor Rama wanted the minimum living wage. But the Ombudsman should establish it here in the square with the people," the pensioner said.
Another protester, an elderly woman, recounted the problems she said she had encountered with the justice system and the police, as well as her son's situation.
"I am an elderly woman who has problems with justice, with the police. My house was stolen, they took it away from me once, and today my son is in prison," she said.
She said that her son is in Drenova prison, in Korça, and expressed the difficulty in pursuing the case due to her age and health condition.
"They've taken my son to Drenova, Korça. Can I follow him there in his old age? I can't drag myself," declared the old woman.
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