As Tirana experiences days of massive citizen protests, renowned actor Mehdi Malkaj has expressed his strong revolt against Prime Minister Edi Rama, stating that he has been protesting for more than a decade. Malkaj recalled that his commitment began with the cause of protecting the National Theater and that he has never stopped, as according to him he has understood that changes do not come without confrontation and citizen resistance.
"Personally, I have been protesting for at least 10 years. Since the problems with the Theater, I have not stopped. I have realized that things are not won any other way," the actor said.
He warned that the situation could escalate, arguing that citizens feel unrepresented by the government and that a prime minister must be accountable to all the people, not just his party's supporters.
In his statements, Malkaj accused Rama of arrogance and detachment from reality, even using strong popular expressions to describe the behavior of the head of government.
"If the prime minister comes out and speaks to the citizens. He is not the prime minister only of the socialists, but of all Albanians. He has the entire people at his back, from the most remote village to the capital," he said in an interview for Syri.
The actor also compared Rama's behavior to that of authoritarian leaders, describing it as a form of defiance towards citizens and adding that the prime minister is showing that he does not want to hear the voices of the protesters.
Mehdi Malkaj: I personally, at least I have been protesting for 10 years. Personally, since the problems that arose with the theater and signing this, I have not stopped, because I have understood one thing, even with what I have read… everything you have read and what you have seen pushes that things cannot be achieved differently, either you will take a rifle, or you will take sticks. That is. This is how other peoples who are much more advanced than us have achieved it. Yes, I think it is delayed but that is where it will come, to escalation. That is where it will come because a person who is elected, is elected to be responsible for that, not irresponsible.
Then, from there on my part, or rather I heard from my grandmother, this expression: If you don't get it, it's not a big deal. Of course. If the prime minister of the country comes out there, why is he the prime minister? Why, how does he think he should only solve the problems of the socialists? A prime minister is not elected for the problems of the party he represents. He has the whole people on his back. From the most remote village to the capital, which is the center of culture. He doesn't fill it anymore, he's lost... what he says has moved him, if you don't get it, it's not a big deal.
What can I tell you? Look, all dictators have this. This song in the dance, they have this, they have it, and they ran away with it afterwards. With this, because this is… a great favor that you do to your people. It's one thing… look, I can do whatever I want, that's what he does. And I don't want to know about you. You be like this, flamenco or whatever he says now… He's making a mess of the wood.
This prime minister. He's making fun of the wood. He definitely wants this wood. Because he's doing it like that… How can he? How is it possible? He's wearing a tie, a suit, everything… He's correct, he waits, he follows… What is this? Where did we get this from? No, this is not extravagance, it's not… this is a mistake. A serious mistake… or, as we usually say, he's lost his way. He's lost his way. It's over. As long as he finds it, as long as he searches for it… that's enough… or as I say, the mind is like a hand full of flies. You open it, they're gone. Do flies gather anymore?
