The Battle for the Spirit of Protest/Why Albania Risks Losing the Narrative of the Civic Cause

2026-06-23 14:29:00, Opinione Dr.Arben Ramkaj

The Battle for the Spirit of Protest/Why Albania Risks Losing the Narrative of

Every major civic movement waged two parallel battles. The first was waged in the open with the government, to demand accountability. The second was waged in the public sphere, over how it was perceived by society and the international community.

As the largest protest in recent decades in Albania, the recent rallies on Tirana’s central boulevard demonstrated a deep and legitimate discontent. Democracy does not function only through the ballot box, but also through the right to challenge government decisions. Precisely because of this historical weight, preserving the pure identity of the cause was vital.

However, along the way, the movement lost control of its public narrative. In the international media, attention quickly shifted from citizens’ demands to geopolitics. The focus was no longer on living standards or transparency, but on the Trump family and Jared Kushner’s investment plans on Sazan Island.

Instead of the world listening to the voice of Albanian civil society, it followed a debate on global strategic interests. Albania does not need a rhetoric against foreign investment or Western allies. If there are any doubts about the way projects in Sazan or Zvërnec are managed, the legal and moral responsibility lies exclusively with the state institutions that approve them.

The public representation of a cause ultimately determines its fate. This was clearly seen when the organizers chose Colonel Dritan Demiraj as one of the main public figures. Despite his past contributions, Demiraj remains a deeply polarized profile across the political and ideological spectrum.

This selection creates a huge representation gap for the thousands and thousands of young people who fill the squares, who share different modern, progressive values ??and are completely far from traditional military or party rhetoric. Organizers must ensure that the civic message is not eclipsed by radical rhetoric or old ideological agendas. Albania does not need the overthrow of systems, but the consolidation of institutions, the rule of law and radical transparency.

On the other hand, the complexity of this situation cannot be ignored. Information interference through social networks, accompanied by statements from external actors such as Iran and anonymous TikTok accounts that fueled polarization, shows that protests today are constantly exposed to elements of hybrid warfare. But it is equally dangerous and wrong to label all participants as instruments of foreign powers. Political maturity requires avoiding both of these harmful extremes.

Another worrying phenomenon is the return of a divisive language, used regularly over the past three decades. Whenever politics finds itself in crisis, cultural and religious prejudices against the Muslim community are revived, using anachronistic labels such as "Taliban" or "Iranian". This artificial production of "enemies" simply diverts attention from real and tangible problems: rampant corruption, the functioning of the justice system and the mass emigration of young people. Stigmatizing religious leaders or citizens because of their faith violates the basic principles of freedom of expression in an open society.

Today, across Europe and the Balkans, populist movements are growing, fueled by deep disillusionment with political elites. Patriotism remains a constructive value, but a nationalism built exclusively on anger and the constant search for enemies does not offer a healthy democratic alternative.

Citizen initiative and voice must be protected from any kind of unfair stigmatization. In a true democracy, no citizen or cleric loses his right to have an opinion or to be part of public debates simply because of his faith or profession. Building bridges of communication and respecting everyone's freedom is the only path to an emancipated society.

In the end, the success of this movement is not measured only by the momentary pushback of power, but by the ability to preserve its spirit. If it remains a civic protest, anchored in freedom and responsibility, it will mark a long-term victory for society. Citizens demand a functioning democracy, not a "democracy" or an authoritarian facade where power controls society. Only by preserving this principle will this protest be remembered as a moment that strengthened institutions, and not as a case where image drowned the cause./ CNA