Anjeza Shahini explodes against Rama: Better to leave as a failed prime minister than as a dictator

Singer Anjeza Shahini has reacted to the recent protests in Tirana and has not spared criticism of Prime Minister Edi Rama for the language used towards protesters and the way the police are dealing with the youth revolt.

In a reaction on social media, Shahini writes that he does not see violence from Albanian youth, but legitimate revolt and protest, while accusing police forces of excessive use of force and violation of citizens' rights.

She also criticizes the prime minister's statements that violence cannot be stopped through threats and language that incites more tensions.

Shahini addresses the prime minister directly, asking him to take responsibility for the situation and not to confuse the number of protesters with the political force that gave him votes.

"I am writing this after seeing the prime minister claiming to stop violence through the language of violence and through the language of threats, this is intolerable. If Meloni does it, it is bad, if France does it, even worse."

Democracy has costs and responsibilities, it is not a solution to threats. I don't hide it, I created hope that it would show leadership, a leader, why not for other countries in crisis, but this hope also disappeared.

I don't see violence from Albanian youth, I see legitimate revolt and protest in a so-called democratic country. I see violence from police forces.

I do not see a democratically organized state, but almost a picture of a dictatorial regime, a police force incapable of protecting its own citizens, I see a police force that does not recognize basic human rights, I see a police force that runs through the alleys of Tirana to beat up young men, I see a police force that uses foul language, that exercises violence against women, and that creates panic and terror in every passerby or business.

I see a prime minister who tries to seduce with his outdated charisma, a stubborn prime minister whom I advise to act responsibly, not to waste money on technology to catch hoodlums, but to invest in economic growth because where there is poverty, there is crime, or to leave as a failed prime minister rather than a dictator.

"Let the people vote for you and revote you at least a fraction of the charm you gave them through sneakers and colorful collars. If the crowd is smaller than the number of those who voted for you, this does not make you stronger but more responsible, if you ignore a small crowd, even a single person, you have ignored everyone," she writes.