Xhelal Neziri: Rama must heed protesters and consider early elections

Analyst Xhelal Neziri warned on the television debate Top Tema that the wave of street unrest in Tirana has reached a tipping point and that Prime Minister Edi Rama will have to respond if violent confrontations continue. Neziri spoke alongside Nenad Markovic and Zlate Dimovski about the causes and the scope of the demonstrations that have spread through the Albanian capital.

From investment scandals to clashes on the boulevards

Neziri traced part of the crisis to plans by investors — including a project linked to Jared Kushner and other Dubai backers to build luxury hotels on the coast — that were followed by corruption allegations. Those revelations, and the fall of Vice Prime Minister Belinda Balluku amid corruption claims, helped gather and intensify public anger.

According to Neziri, most of the protests have taken place along Tirana’s main boulevards, stretching from the government building to the parliament and to ministries such as justice and education. Demonstrators have pelted buildings with stones, set fires and at times engaged in what he described as a “mini-war” with police.

“All of this suggests that if it continues like this, one day Rama must listen to those demands and not withdraw — he should rather consider early parliamentary elections,” Neziri said. “And one of the reasons people took to the streets is also Sali Berisha, because there must be an opposition to channel that discontent,” he added.

Neziri’s remarks underscore growing pressure on the government as authorities confront both violent street actions and a broader political crisis tied to corruption allegations and the weakening of institutional trust. The three-panel discussion on Top Tema highlighted competing views on how the unrest might evolve and what political steps could follow.

Photo: press material from the event