Berisha publishes protester's call: If this protest fails, Albania risks another exodus

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, has published on social networks a part of the statement of one of the protesters from the recent rallies, describing it as a "call that must be heard."

The protester spoke about the role of the protest as a point of unity for citizens with different beliefs and backgrounds, but who, according to her, share the same concern for the future of the country.

She focused on demands for freedom, meritocracy, and equal opportunities, arguing that the protest has brought people together who had previously felt alone.

In her speech, she warned that the failure of this movement could deepen the disappointment of a part of society that works, is educated and contributes to the country. According to her, a possible consequence would be a new wave of departures from Albania, especially of young people and professionals.

 Referring to political divisions and criticism of the protest, she said that despite the differences between the participants, citizens have united around a common cause.

Full speech: To tell the truth, it started as a very ugly comedy that called itself connected to the protest. And throughout this time we have seen how the government, that is, those who… those against whom we are protesting, have also played numerous ugly comedies with the sole purpose, of course, to divide and undo this initiative. Very beautiful, very special that it brought together those Albanians who are citizens, workers, family members, who love the good of this country and who thought to some extent that they were alone. And this was the miracle of this protest.

And this is why all of us, when we came to the boulevard, at least the first month, were sometimes even moved. To then have a river, a river of faces that have been said about this protest, I don't hear the most important thing being said anywhere, or maybe it's been forgotten, that this protest has brought together people who come from the most different circumstances and who have the most different beliefs, but are united by a cause that is that of freedom. That all revolutions seek the same thing, which is always freedom, freedom from the yoke of those who have made it difficult for us to feel rewarded and find meritocracy in this country. 

And today I was thinking about an unfortunate hypothetical scenario, in which the great wish of all those who are most vocal against this protest becomes a reality, and let's say this protest is canceled. What then? I have the impression that they are very aware of what will happen next and that is what saddens me the most.

That they know that beyond all those conspiracies, not the Iranian, not this one, not that one, in fact there are citizens who are here with a soul, and they know very well that these are a very good layer of our country and they are the ones who are keeping the country on its feet, that they are the ones who work and they are the ones who produce and they are the ones who are educated and have chosen to stay here to make this country, as well as to make themselves in this country of course, because the stone is heavy in its place. But what will happen to them then? What will happen is that this layer, which could have been given the power to make the country, will be frustrated, will feel even more oppressed. 

It will not be allowed to give its best. The country will continue to be given to those who have been given it so far, who are patronizers, who are people who only take, take, take from this country without giving anything in return, in a parasitic manner. I have said that I sometimes fear that this protest could be the starting point of another exodus of Albanians, and I am sorry that this exodus would be... it would be exhausting for the brains of this country.

It is what is said to be the brain drain that has happened so far, that more than 400 thousand Albanians have left Albania in the last 10 years and these are official data. But what would happen if you, these people, who come with good hopes to make this country, to change it, you isolate them, segregate them, make them feel that their sacrifice and hard work has gone to waste? I think that this would be… we would all experience it. And this would be the most terrible scenario, because if these people who are the hope that is left for this country, that the hope for a better future are always the educated people who work, those who continue to believe in certain ideals and are not cynical.

And they would leave this place open so that these very people who have sold human dignity to this day, have sold... have made compromises that don't even count, but now they are selling the country. Here they would be. And you know, there would be no one left to tell them 'stop' and there would be no one left to stop them. And this is why we have been coming out here for 50 days despite the differences we may have with each other. There is no other way we can fight what they are trying to do, to divide us, to suggest to us...

Only by protesting, there is no other way. I don't know of any better way, because I don't want to be alive, wherever I am, I don't want to be alive on that day when this remains the land of filth and the land of parasitism.