Prime Minister Edi Rama has commented on the 41-day-long citizen protest against him and the government. During a meeting with young people in Jalë, he admitted that the citizens' dissatisfaction may be related to his governance and that of the Socialist Party. Rama also clarified previous statements, in which he had spoken about the influence of algorithms and foreign forces. For the first time, Rama has admitted that the protest was not organized by algorithms or external actors, but stems from real concerns of citizens.
However, the prime minister stressed that algorithms and disinformation on social media have contributed to the spread of messages and increased tension. "The algorithm does not light the fire, but pours gasoline on it," he said, adding that every protest carries a message that must be heard and understood.
Rama stated that his task is to distinguish the real concerns of citizens from, in his view, attempts at manipulation. He said that it is important to understand where sincere protest ends and where the influence of other factors begins.
The Prime Minister also touched on the protest that started for the project in Zvërnec. According to him, this cause faded after, as he said, the facts turned out to be different from the perception created through disinformation. Rama denied that the government has sold Sazan or Zvërnec. He emphasized that there is still no agreement on the project, while the state intends to be a co-owner in the investment.
