Protests in Tirana: Between a Test of Democracy and Alarms over Neighboring Foreign Influences
The protests in Albania, called the "Flamingo Revolution," against projects in protected areas are entering their third week. They are taking place at a time when Albania has just opened all negotiation chapters for European Union membership. In this context, the dilemma arises of how much the protests can be exploited by various actors to hinder the country's European path. The marches are being held on "Dëshmorët e Kombit" Boulevard, peacefully, where the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the removal of the old political caste are also being demanded, writes Portalb.mk.
In recent weeks, the protests have sparked a broad public debate about their possible impact on Albania's EU integration process. Parallel to the expansion of the protests, claims of foreign influences, attempts at destabilization, and "hybrid warfare" have emerged.
This narrative was also articulated by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who in an interview with CNN at the beginning of June spoke of a "hybrid war" waged by "enemies we know very well" and "strong competition in our part of the Mediterranean."
While Rama denounced what he called "hybrid war" against Albania's development and hinted that Greece might have interests in stopping the Zvërnec project, an AI-generated image of a column of buses near a border checkpoint began circulating in media and social networks.
So far, protesters have rejected party symbols of all political parties, both those in power and those in opposition. Their main demand, besides Rama's resignation, is the suspension of the project in Zvërnec and Sazan. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that neither will happen, since only a year ago he received a vote of confidence in parliamentary elections, winning an absolute majority.
Protests Will Not Hinder Albania's EU Path, But Will Strengthen the Institution and Public Debate
Experts and political analysts in Albania do not agree that the protests taking place in Tirana will hinder Albania's path toward the European Union (EU). According to them, the protests show a political maturity of Albanian society in general and the younger generation in particular.
For analyst Erjon Tase, who spoke to Portalb.mk, mass protests are an expression of internal discontent and part of a democratic process within Albanian society. According to him, protests should not be seen as an obstacle to integration, but as evidence that Albanian society is moving to a phase where citizens demand more transparency, accountability, and European standards.
"If citizens are protesting against corruption or for more responsible governance, in defense of nature and against investments by some wealthy individuals at the expense of the majority of unprotected citizens, these demands are at the core of the Europe we seek to integrate into," Tase said.
He further added that, as can be seen during these days of protests, the bearers are the youth and citizens who demand a change of the old political elite. Tase added that this youth protesting is precisely the generation that was born, grew up, and became parents with the same leaders in government or opposition. As Tase said, this is the same political class that has refused rotation, limited internal democracy in their parties, and meritocracy that could promote talented young people and challenge the post-communist elite from within.
Analyst Lutfi Dervishi also shares the same opinion that protests will not hinder Albania's European path. In a statement to Portalb.mk, Dervishi said that protests will not slow down Albania's Euro-integrative path, but on the contrary, they will accelerate it. He believes that if protests remain peaceful, as they have been so far, they will in no way harm the European integration process, but will strengthen it even more.
"The European Union is not just an ATM, an economic or administrative project, but also a democratic project and mentality. In Brussels, no one is worried by the fact that citizens protest. Concern arises when citizens cannot protest, when the media does not cover the protest, when the state limits fundamental freedoms, or when institutions do not listen to their voice," Dervishi said.
Dervishi added that a large protest, organized spontaneously, peacefully, and with broad citizen participation, is evidence of an active and democratic society. He emphasized that through this protest, as he has followed in the media and social networks, Albania's image has not been damaged; on the contrary, it has improved.
Divided Opinions on Foreign Influences: Some Experts See Protests as a Democratic Process, Others Warn of Risks to the Country's Image
According to analysts of the political circumstances in Albania, the "Flamingo Revolution" protests are a challenge for state institutions on how they will manage these protests, and this will also show how ready they are to move toward the European integration path.
Erjon Tase said that if institutions manage these protests with dialogue and respect for human rights, the Euro-integrative path will not only not slow down, but the country's European path may be strengthened.
"So, the impact depends on how the government and opposition handle these developments. For the moment, the protests in Tirana do not appear to have hidden funding or any anti-European narrative. If any foreign actor is promoting these protests on social networks, as might be the case with Iran, this is for an internal benefit in Iran and not in Albania," Tase said.
Analyst Lutfi Dervishi is on the same line, stating that Albania is negotiating EU membership precisely so that its citizens have more rights, more transparency, and more opportunities to hold the government accountable.
"Therefore, the question is not whether protests harm European integration, but whether institutions succeed in responding to the concerns that bring citizens to the streets. When hundreds of thousands of people protest for weeks, the most convincing explanation is usually not found abroad, but within the country. The current protests stem from years of accumulated discontent over very concrete issues: starting with the environment and continuing with the cost of living, housing prices, emigration, corruption, abuse, lack of transparency, and the fact that important decisions are made without consultation with citizens," Dervishi said.
Furthermore, Dervishi also spoke about possible foreign influences on the protests taking place in Tirana. According to him, so far, no public evidence has been presented that would explain the scale and continuity of these protests as a result of an external operation. For the Albanian audience in North Macedonia, he emphasized that Albania is not going through a state crisis, but a strong democratic debate on the model of development, governance, and the future of the country, and there is no reason for alarm.
On the other hand, analyst Selim Ibraimi has a different stance regarding foreign influence on the protests in Tirana over Zvërnec. He believes that various countries have interests in hindering Albania's path toward the EU. In a statement to Portalb.mk, he said that the continuation of protests for a longer time increases the possibility of presenting Albania as an unstable country, with institutions unable to establish public order and security.
"Although protests are part of democracy, such a presentation leaves room for the EU to set new obstacles and conditions for Albania. Official Tirana remains at the doors of the EU. Resolving the demands of dissatisfied citizens in a shorter time would help Albania continue its path toward the EU. But in any case, recent events remind us of the year 1996/97, and there is a fear that these protests could turn into violence and more than that," Ibraimi said.
Further, speaking about possible foreign influences on the protest taking place in Tirana, Ibraimi said that we may encounter several signs that present foreign elements interested in hindering Albania's path and its development over the last two decades, both in the economy and in other fields.
For Ibraimi, there is certainly much to be said about the rule of law and justice in Albania, but it is unclear why this is happening precisely now.
"From the composition, the calls, and also the reports, it is clear that the protests are not only related to the non-implementation of laws in protected areas, but also to other factors, where organizations from neighboring states want Albania to be harmed. There is certainly much to be said about the rule of law and justice in Albania, but it is very unclear why this is happening right now. Although governments in the region have said nothing about the protests, it is historically known that in Albania, neighboring states have interfered in internal affairs and influenced the course of political, economic, and more events," Ibraimi declared.
Meanwhile, the calls "Rama to prison, Berisha to prison, and Rama resign" continue to be massive in the protest, which have been heard repeatedly by participants during marches and gatherings in the capital.
The protest over the weekend was also joined by MP Marjana Koçeku. Her presence at the protest comes as she announced her departure from the Socialist Party group a few days earlier. The protest continues in front of the Prime Minister's office, while organizers have announced the continuation of citizen mobilization in the coming days.
