In the five massive protests in Tirana, one thing has been clear in the streets and squares, on the banners and in the calls of citizens, anger towards the government and the way in which power is being exercised in the country by Prime Minister Edi Rama and his people.
In front of the Prime Minister's Office, strong messages against the government, arrogance and lack of dialogue with citizens have been heard for 5 consecutive days. Protesters have articulated dissatisfaction with decision-making that they see as harmful and with a system that, according to them, no longer listens to ordinary people. Today, Albanians are being robbed of their property by the "strong" or people close to power. Corruption has reached alarming levels, while abuse of power is being attempted to return to normality, as long as justice is prevented from doing its job. This kills the hope and future of citizens. It forces Albanians to leave.
In this sense, the protests have had a clear axis, criticism of the government and a demand for political change.
However, an attempt to shift the focus has also spread in public discourse, interpreting the protests as an anti-American stance. But this does not match the reality of the messages the protesters themselves have given.
American flags have also been seen at the rallies raised alongside the Albanian national flag, a detail that, on the contrary, shows a pro-Western symbolism and not a rejection of the strategic alliance of Albania and Albanians with the USA.
Essentially, the protests are not read as a clash with international partners, but as an explosion of internal anger for reasons that are already well-known and legible on every banner.
The anger is directed at Prime Minister Edi Rama and his way of governing, reflecting an accumulated dissatisfaction with years of misgovernance, poverty, and lack of accountability.
In this sense, the square has spoken about Albania and its internal problems that, instead of being resolved long ago, are getting worse. Misgovernance and its effects are worsening, institutional lawlessness is deepening, while citizens are losing jobs, living costs are rising, and the inability to lead a normal life in 2026 is impossible.
