Former Socialist Party MP, Ermelinda Meksi, has commented on the citizens' protests on the Boulevard, emphasizing that the focus of the debate should not be on the number of participants, but on the concerns they are raising.

In a public reaction, Meksi notes that the prime minister has paid close attention to the size of the protest, the way it is reflected in the media, and the role of disinformation and social networks in shaping public perceptions.

According to her, these are legitimate concerns for any modern democracy, but she emphasizes that the head of government's response pays less attention to the questions that citizens are raising regarding corruption, transparency, public consultation, ownership, environmental impact, and concrete public benefits of the investment.

Meksi says the government continues to treat the issue as a debate about a project that “does not yet exist,” while protesters are demanding information and dialogue at an early stage of the process. According to the former socialist MP, this is the period when a public debate should take place on the benefits of the investment, the long-term impacts, and the development model that Albania aims for, including sustainable tourism, environmental protection, and the fair benefit of citizens from natural resources.

In conclusion, Meksi underlines that in a democracy, it is not only the number of protesters that matters, but the message they try to convey. She adds that the longer the protests continue, the greater the need for citizens' concerns to be addressed through dialogue, transparency and verifiable facts.

MEX'S REACTION
Are the protesters being heard by the government?
The Prime Minister's latest reaction on the X platform pays close attention to the size of the protest, the way it is portrayed in the media, and the role that disinformation, digital amplification, and social media can play in shaping public perceptions.
These are legitimate concerns for any modern democracy.
But his response pays much less attention to the content of the questions that citizens are raising regarding corruption, transparency, public consultation, ownership, environmental impact, and concrete public benefits of the investment.
The Prime Minister continues to treat the issue as a debate over a project that "does not yet exist."
While the message coming from the protests seems different:
"Precisely because we are in the early stages of the process, we demand transparency, information and dialogue now, not after everything is decided."
In fact, it is at this stage that a public debate should take place on the benefit of the investment, its long-term impacts, and the development model we want for Albania. Not just for a specific project, but also for how we understand sustainable tourism, environmental protection, and the fair benefit of citizens from the country's natural resources.
In a democracy, more than the number of protesters, what matters is the message they are trying to convey.
The longer the protests continue, the greater the need for it to be heard and addressed with dialogue, transparency, and verifiable facts.
Because the issue is not the number of those protesting, a number that should not be neglected, but how many institutions are willing to listen and respond in a timely manner to the concerns they express.