Belind Këlliçi has raised the issue of the protests held in Tirana in the European Parliament, stating that they are a civic reaction to corruption and the governance of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

During his speech at the EU-Albania Joint Stabilization and Association Committee, Këlliçi said that for 38 days, Albanian citizens have been protesting in the squares of Tirana, in what he called the "Flamingo Revolution".

"For the first time since the fall of the dictatorship, the Albanian square no longer belongs to any political party, but to every citizen who seeks change," Këlliçi declared to MEPs.

He rejected accusations that the protests were instigated by foreign factors, saying they were not organized by Russia or Iran, but are a domestic reaction to the country's problems.

"This protest is not instigated by Moscow, Iran, or any 'foreign enemy.' It is a democratic and peaceful reaction to government corruption," the Democrat MP said.

In his speech, Këlliçi also spoke about the book "The Albanian Files", which he described as evidence of Edi Rama's governance model.

He accused the government of using special laws, territorial changes, and administrative decisions to favor certain projects.

The full word;

Dear MEPs,
Honorable members of this Committee,

Since our last meeting in Tirana, many events have occurred that need to be noted in this Joint Stabilization and Association Committee.

Before I talk about just the agenda, I need to talk about something that transcends all of this: the square.

For more than a month, 38 days, tens of thousands of Albanian citizens have been taking to the streets of Tirana every day, in that protest that is now called the “Flamingo Revolution.” And I tell you today, without any exaggeration: this is the most beautiful and powerful event in the post-communist history of my country.

Because for the first time since the fall of the dictatorship, the Albanian square no longer belongs to any political party, but to every citizen who demands change. Every cause that the opposition has raised for years, from the captured state, to electoral manipulation, the criminalization of the economy, health, education, poverty, depopulation, and even the suppression of the citizen voice, are no longer just "opposition issues" today.

These are issues of the square, of good and honest Albanians, of the youth who have awakened hope by becoming masters of themselves and their country. And when a people embrace the same truth, no government propaganda and no conspiracy theory can replace or alienate that truth.

Please know that this protest is not instigated by Moscow, Iran or any “foreign enemy” as the Albanian government has attempted to portray it. It is a democratic, peaceful response that returns to fundamental Western values, precisely the kind of civic energy that the European Union must protect, with absolute determination. When the government in Tirana attempts to criminalize protest, it is our duty as representative parliamentarians, but also of this common forum, not to remain silent.

Now I will introduce you to the newest development, the book "The Albanian Files", the most blatant evidence of Edi Rama's governance model; through special laws, alienation of public lands, falsification of cadastral registers, manipulated judicial decisions, money laundering, criminalization of the economy, selling these as a development model.

The book documents 523 architectural projects developed or planned in Albania, designed by several international architects personally selected by the prime minister, as they themselves claim in this book. In each project, the same name appears: Edi Rama.

He is presented as their promoter, mediator and political guarantor. This is also proven by the Sky, EncroChat wiretaps, brought to Albania by European partners. In these wiretaps, the criminal groups discuss that they have met with the Prime Minister, have agreed on the construction permits, but are waiting for the name of the foreign architect that he will determine. These are part of the SPAK investigative files, made public by the institution itself, where the Aruba file "shines" among them.

Edi Rama has made public property available, changed territorial plans, approved building permits and, when necessary, changed the laws themselves.

The book documents projects in areas that, at the time they were designed, were protected by law. For many of them, it turns out that the design began 2–3 years before the socialist majority voted to change the law on protected areas in 2024. In other words, it was not the investors who adapted to the law; it was the law that adapted to the investors.

The projects documented in the book span some of Albania's most precious and coveted assets: the South Coast, the Narta Lagoon, Karavasta, Rana e Hedhu, Tale, and other areas of exceptional environmental and economic importance, where land value is highest.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the European Parliament for addressing these concerns raised by the Democratic Party, including on clientelistic laws such as the law on strategic investments, amendments to the law on protected areas, the law on ports, the Port of Durrës, the National Theater, Durana, the Albanian Investment Corporation and other similar acts, which were approved by force of words by the socialist majority.

But today, we are not alone. From the citizens' protest in the square, the same demands have emerged: they start with the resignation of Prime Minister Rama and the entire government. The establishment of a caretaker government with a clear mandate to prepare the country for free and fair elections. The repeal of the strategic investment laws, the legal changes for protected areas, the mountain package, and the legal changes related to the protection of cultural heritage. The Democratic Party immediately proposed these changes to the parliament, but they were rejected by the socialist majority that has the strength and arrogance of cardboard.

I urge you: First, insist that every step towards membership be closely linked to the full and non-selective implementation of European laws and standards.

Second, listen to the voice of the citizens in the squares. They are not asking for Albania's exclusion from Europe, on the contrary, they are the most European force our country has today, because they are asking for an Albania that is built on European values ​​and not on the price paid by the richest client.

Third, the democratic party in Albania remains fully committed to the European path. Our commitment is to true integration, based on good works for the country and the values ​​that unite us, that is, what you call the Merit Based Process.

Albania is watching you, and the real Europe today is found in the squares of Tirana.