Speech at the National Protest – April 17, 2026
Today we gather here, not simply as the opposition standing up, but against the autocratic dictatorship, with the most powerful series of protests—the peaceful uprising that Albania has known in the last 35 years. Today we gather here, not only as a political alternative.
We gather today, in this magnificent protest, as the only hope for the salvation of Albania from the narco-state of Edi Rama, based on crime, drugs, and the theft of the Albanians. That we are the only hope for Albania is clearer today than ever for every Albanian and the friends of Albania in the world who want this country to emerge as soon as possible from this evil malady that is devastating it. This is undoubtedly proven by the most powerful series of giant protests that Albania has ever known—our powerful peaceful uprising. In our past peaceful protest-uprising, tens of thousands of brave men, women, boys, and girls stood undefeated for hours, tooth for tooth against the regime. We faced poisoned water. Tear gas. Batons and rubber bullets.
But that we are the only hope for Albania became even clearer the day after our last protest. A protest was called by honorable people from civil society, in defense of citizens’ interests against the increase in oil prices, against Edi Rama’s predatory tax. At the called hour, only a few dozen people appeared. Absolutely every Albanian, regardless of their beliefs, is affected by the increase in the price of oil. But why was there no participation in that civil society protest? Is there dissatisfaction? Yes, there is. Are oil prices in Albania the highest in Europe? Yes, they are. Are the salaries of citizens in Albania the lowest in the region? Yes, they are. Is Rama’s tax on a liter of oil in Albania the highest in the world? Yes, it is. Then the answer is what the opposition has repeatedly raised in recent years, it is what the “banalists” and “crypto-Ramists” hide from you—it is fear!
Out of fear, people did not dare to come out in protests to protect their interests. Edi Rama, with the system of patronages, with pressure on employees and their families, with the arrest of tens of thousands of citizens for electricity and water bills, etc., with political differentiation and his toxic propaganda distributed by the main media controlled by him, has installed—just like his fathers—fear among Albanians, threatening them with their jobs, the bankruptcy of their business or farm, in short, with their very survival.
However, this shows that in Albania, there is only one force that today carries not only the most democratic ideals but carries the courage of Albanians. There is only one force that today stands undefeated against the fierce attacks of the narco-state. There is only one force that today rises above fear and violence in the battle for interests, for the dignity of Albanians, and their freedoms. And that force is the Democratic Party—the only hope of Albania! And for your labor and sacrifice, for your courage and undefeated spirit, but especially for your service to the nation in this difficult time, I have the highest gratitude and the greatest honor for you, true missionaries of the salvation of the Albanian nation!
God bless you and your families!
This week, the “banalists” and the many bootlickers of the televisions controlled by Rama came out with the thesis that the opposition in Albania does not have the power of the opposition in Hungary, which brought about rotation after 16 years of Fidesz power. But, my friends, there is a fundamental difference between the Hungarian opposition and the Albanian opposition that was not mentioned at all by the “mafia of free speech” which fabricates, manipulates, and deceives the public opinion 24/7 to protect their patron and the regime that feeds them. They, in order to deceive you and despair you, compare the incomparable.
In Hungary, opposition leaders were not arrested in an election year, as happened in Albania or Tunisia; the seal and logo of the main opposition party were not taken by government orders.
In Hungary, the government did not distribute 100 Euros to every retiree to buy votes in the middle of an electoral campaign, as Edi Rama did in Albania.
In the cities of Hungary, the citizens’ votes were not controlled by the largest and most dangerous drug cartels in Europe, as they controlled Durrës, Elbasan, Lushnje, Fier, and Shkodrawith billions of Albanian drug money.
In the Hungarian elections, the government did not forgive fines and interest from 10 years totaling two billion euros, two days before the elections, as the narco-dictator or autocrat did in Albania.
In Hungary, the country’s most-watched commercial media were aligned with the opposition and TikTok was not blocked, whereas in Albania 90% of the media are controlled by Edi Rama and sow censorship, lies, and fabrications about the opposition every day, and TikTok was blocked.
Finally, I remind you that in Hungary, the Minister of Justice and even the President of the Republic, when faced with a scandal, resign within hours to pave the way for justice, while in Albania, 83 criminal mandates were used as a shield for the theft of at least 1.2 billion euros by the Rama-Balluku duo.
Therefore, in these completely different and most difficult conditions, I must affirm that we, the Albanian opposition, have made and are making a manifold sacrifice, perhaps greater than any other opposition in Europe, to protect the interest, freedom, and dignity of Albanian citizens.
Let us not forget that an attack was launched against us with the aim of annihilating us, simply because we did not accept the merger of the opposition with the government; we refused the “facade-opposition.” They tried through the courts to take our party. But through battle and sacrifice, we took it back. They isolated us internationally with corrupt lobbying and deception, but today we have the widest international support, with 7 resolutions in just 14 months from the main parties that lead the world today, denouncing Edi Rama’s narco-state and his electoral farce.
The leader of the opposition was politically imprisoned without any facts or legal violations. Today, not only could not a single piece of evidence or a single fact be presented against Sali Berisha, but recently, for that very issue, Edi Rama himself has been called to give an account! Albania and Albanians will have the chance to see the confrontation of the century in court. And here, before you, I tell Edi Rama that if you don’t have the guts to come to the courtroom like the coward you are, I challenge you—choose the television studio, choose your sycophants, and come to a debate so I can prove to Albanians with facts and documents what an insatiable thief you are and what human wickedness you represent.
Your dark time for Albanians has come to an end!
And finally, with the uninterrupted series of national protests, the most powerful in our history, we became the voice of conscience of a violated and looted society before the Albanians and their friends in the world. We have reached the final kilometer of our long and difficult opposition and we walk confidently toward the fulfillment of our mission with our peaceful uprising. Never in 35 years has our opposition voice resonated more powerfully throughout the world. Never has our protest and its cause been more supported in Europe and the world, and never has the Rama-Balluku duo and their criminal organization become more infamous.
You should be proud, today and forever, of yourselves, of each other, of the cause you defend, and of your mission!
But there is a lesson that Albanians can draw from the elections in Hungary! What was different this time in the Hungarian elections was the massive turnout—over 80%. This is the reason why I have proposed mandatory voting, as various countries in Europe have, because only such a mandatory participation in elections in Albania could liberate Albanians from fear, could make a difference, and finally bring the overthrow of the electoral farces that have been taking place in Albania for years.
But of course, in Albania, such participation is prohibited by the regime. It is prohibited by the open calls and threats of Edi Rama to citizens not to take to the streets and not to show up for voting if they do not vote for the SP. It is prohibited by the “patronage-ists”—the political police of the Albanian vote—who take citizens’ ID cards on election day so they cannot vote; it is prohibited by the changing of the locations of polling stations. Massive participation in elections is prohibited by the threats of organized crime over citizens, as well as by the massive buying of the right to vote—meaning not voting—and many, many other criminal mechanisms.
Therefore, I have a call for every Albanian. Do not wait for Rama to be removed by justice. He proved with “Lubi” Balluku how he multiplied justice by zero, using criminal mandates as a shield. Do not wait for Rama to be removed by internationals. The EU and several member states have clearly shown that with Edi Rama, there is no integration. More than that, they cannot do.
The solution, therefore, is to unite in the square! In massive numbers. And in persistence. Our peaceful uprising is the salvation of Albania!
Today, every Albanian has hundreds of reasons to rise in revolt. The 1 billion euros that will be paid by Albanian citizens for the Port of Porto Romano—a port 4 times smaller than that of Durrës—are 1 billion reasons for revolt. Because those 1 billion euros could have gone toward doubling all pensions. They could have gone toward doubling all salaries.
If you are against the hundreds of millions in thefts of AKSHI by the Rama family, against the thefts with incinerators, against the thefts with the stratospheric prices of roads, join us in our peaceful uprising! From this podium, I address all citizens of this country: if you want the reduction of the price of oil, which today is the highest in Europe because of the Rama tax, it is time to join our peaceful uprising. The removal of the Rama tax on oil and its sale in Albania at the price it is sold in neighboring countries is the commitment of the Democratic Party.
I address all farmers: if you want to work your land, receive the subsidies you deserve, and have your farms prosper you and the country, join us in our peaceful uprising!
I address all workers, employees, and retirees of the country: if you are against the high cost of living and high prices, it is time to join our peaceful uprising! The Living Minimum is the first law that the Democratic Party in power will sign, as we declared a year ago. If you want the doubling of salaries and pensions, and dignified services in education and health, join us in our peaceful uprising!
I address all young men and women, high schoolers, and students of this country: if you want to build your dream in Albania, join us in our peaceful uprising for guaranteed education, employment, and housing!
For all citizens of this country who want free elections, like those held in 2013 where the last rotation in Albania occurred, or as Kosovo and surrounding countries conduct them, then it is time to join our peaceful uprising!
I address all Albanians who consider EU integration as the best future: if you want Albania to continue its journey into the European Union as a country of free citizens equal before the law and the rule of law, join us in our peaceful uprising!
With Edi Rama, who uses the law to protect his thefts, there is no integration. With its battles in recent years, the Democratic Party provided Albanians with a true opposition. With its battles, we showed our friends the truth about Albania. Now, in the final kilometer, a broad alliance of the opposition and Albanian citizens will make the final downfall of Edi Rama possible. Because Albanians will not allow their impoverishment, misery, theft, and looting; because Albanians will no longer allow the blocking of justice, and will not allow obstacles on the path of their European integration so that Edi Rama can protect the billions he has stolen and continues to steal.
Today there is only one formula to overthrow Edi Rama, and every Albanian must be clear about this: Sustainable peaceful uprising until a technical government and free elections. And today, before history, before our children, and before our own conscience, each of us must make their choice.
Will we choose fear or will we choose freedom? Will we choose silence or will we raise our voice? Will we choose capitulation or a peaceful uprising?
Albania is not saved by one man alone. Nor by one political force. Nor by the internationals. Albania is saved only by the union of all opposition political forces, civil society, and other factors who believe that the free vote is decisive for the future of Albanians. Albania is saved when an entire people decides to kill fear and no longer accept injustice. And that day has come! That day is today.
Let us turn hope into strength, and strength into victory, because we are not simply the opposition. We are the only hope of Albania and we never surrender.
