Berisha: PD fully backs the student revolt, citizens should not recognize Rama's measures

Democratic Party (PD) leader Sali Berisha said on Sunday that his party fully supports what he called the student revolt that has gripped Tirana for days. According to him, Saturday's protest was a victory for citizens and students, who, he said, showed Albanians and the international community that they will not be defeated by violence, terror or threats.

“Our support is total”

Berisha said thousands of citizens took part in the protest, called by the PD and by the education, miners', architects' and engineers' unions, and that young Democrats were active participants. “Our support for the protest is total,” he said. The opposition leader called Prime Minister Edi Rama a “narco-dictator” and claimed that in 10 years the country has lost 47 percent or more of its residents, a figure he did not back up with sources.

On police violence, Berisha said the “Shqiponjat” (Eagles) unit and RENEA would be disbanded and sent, in his words, where they deserve to go for their crimes.

A call against the government's measures

Referring to the package of measures against urban violence that the government announced the same day, Berisha urged citizens not to recognize them and to rise up “tooth for tooth” against Rama. He restated the opposition's demands for a technical government and free and fair elections, adding that “there is no law or force in the world” that can stop the Democratic Party in this mission.

Berisha's statement came as the student protest entered its 13th day and a few hours after the prime minister accused the PD of putting itself at the forefront of Saturday's violence.