The violent escalation of protests is a warning
signal that cannot and must not be ignored. The situation demands responses and
solutions from those who bear the political and institutional responsibility to
provide them.
Had citizens' grievances, demands, and
disagreements been heard and addressed in a timely manner, through appropriate means
and with the necessary political will, perhaps we would not have reached this
point.
But now, before the situation escalates further,
action is urgently needed. Through political means, not violence!
Violence, regardless of which side resorts to it, is not a solution. Arrogance
is never the right approach, even when one believes oneself to be right. Still
less so when exercising power.
You cannot govern by showing contempt for the
people!
Listening to citizens does not necessarily mean
agreeing with everything they say. It means respecting their right to be heard,
to demand accountability, and to receive answers. It means acknowledging that
disagreement is part of democracy and that politics exists, among other things,
to find solutions through democratic engagement.
Responsibility for the way the protests have been
handled lies with the political class as a whole, but not equally. The primary
responsibility rests with the governing majority, which holds the instruments
of power and has the capacity to offer solutions. Instead of being heard and
invited into dialogue, protesters have also been met with labels, irony, and
disregard. Derogatory descriptions such as “crows,” “ravens,” and similar
expressions cannot substitute for meaningful responses to citizens' demands.
Yet other political forces cannot regard the
protests merely as an opportunity to capitalize on public dissatisfaction.
Their responsibility is not to appropriate the protests for their own purposes,
but to help ensure that citizens' demands receive responses through democratic
mechanisms.
Thus, between disregard and ridicule on one side,
and attempts at political instrumentalization on the other, the positive
energy of the protests was lost—an energy that could and should have served
as a democratic instrument for reflection, dialogue, and the correction of
political decisions.
Today, the protests have entered a different stage,
marked by escalation and violent confrontation. But an essential distinction
must be made: the loss of the positive energy that characterized the initial
phase of the protests does not mean that citizens' demands have lost their
legitimacy.
As long as these demands remain unresolved, they
continue to require political and institutional responses. Violent escalation
does not justify violence, but neither does it automatically invalidate the
underlying problems that gave rise to the protests.
Therefore, ending the violence is an immediate
necessity, while addressing the root causes of the crisis remains a political
and institutional obligation. One cannot replace the other.
Meanwhile, allegations of foreign interference,
intelligence networks, or destabilization scenarios bring back memories of
Gazidede's statements in 1997. I am not equating the two situations, but history
should have taught us to be cautious about explanations that risk diverting
attention from the domestic causes of a crisis.
Even if such external influences exist, they can
hardly gain traction without fertile ground within the country itself. And that
fertile ground is created precisely by the failure to address citizens'
grievances, demands, and disagreements in time, by the absence of dialogue, and
by the failure to channel them through democratic and institutional processes.
Under these circumstances, the issue is not simply
to stop the protests or restore calm. The crisis that gave rise to them must
be resolved.
Temporary calm may create an illusion of normality,
but it does not eliminate the problem. Unaddressed grievances remain like
embers beneath the ashes, ready to ignite again, perhaps with even more serious
consequences.
Political responsibility is not limited to managing
the consequences of a crisis. It also requires identifying and addressing its
causes, opening the way for dialogue, taking the necessary decisions, and, when
required, having the courage to correct them.
Overcome the obsession with appearing strong,
unyielding, and invincible. Correcting a decision or reconsidering a position
is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, the willingness to reflect and take
corrective action may be the clearest expression of responsibility in the
exercise of power.
Humility is a quality of capable and responsible
leadership. It does not weaken authority; rather, it gives authority substance
and legitimacy. Knowing how to listen, acknowledging the possibility of error,
and having the courage to make corrections does not mean losing authority. It
demonstrates the ability to exercise it in the service of citizens.
Power does not become stronger by refusing to
acknowledge mistakes, but by demonstrating the ability to correct them. It is
time to put an end to Balkan-style arrogance!
The first opportunity to address the crisis through
timely dialogue has been lost. We must not lose the opportunity to prevent even
more serious consequences.
Do not delay any longer!
Political solutions may come at a cost, but
inaction and procrastination can make those costs far greater, even unbearable
and irreversible.
What we need is not a temporary peace that conceals
the crisis, but a solution that addresses its underlying causes. Because it
is not enough for the streets to become quiet; the grievances that brought
people into those streets must be addressed.
No political interest, no claim to being right, and
no justification based on the exercise of power can warrant an unbearable price
for citizens, society, and the country.
By Luiza Hoxhaj
Tirana, 15 October 2026