Prime Minister Edi Rama seems to still not intend to resign, which has been demanded by protesters for 55 days, but instead has chosen to provide his political response to civic discontent.
In a statement to the media after the extended meeting with the Socialist Party parliamentary group and the government cabinet, Rama spoke at length about the protests of recent months, acknowledging that among the protesters were also members, supporters and voters of the Socialist Party.
The head of government presented two strategic documents for the fourth term, while saying that the protests have highlighted the gap between the work done by the government and the way it is perceived by citizens.
Rama said he initially thought the protesters were "ungrateful," but added that this was a misinterpretation. According to him, they did not come out to deny the transformation of Albania during the first three terms, but to demand higher standards in governance.
"You are not ungrateful, you are the new measure of our standards," the prime minister said, emphasizing that participants in the protests were driven by the need to convey a message that went beyond political beliefs.
Rama acknowledged that socialists, supporters of the majority, as well as public administration employees also participated in the protests, arguing that their dissatisfaction was not related to opposition to the government's achievements, but to the demand for more efficient governance.
According to the Prime Minister, citizens today demand more accountability from the government and have become less tolerant of daily problems, while part of the dissatisfaction stems from their experience with public administration.
He added that, although there was interference from external actors, disinformation and fake news during the protests, these are not the main cause of the revolt. According to Rama, the basis of the dissatisfaction lies in the daily experience of citizens, especially their relationship with the state administration.
