4 million euros for a concert, French magazine "hits" Rama: Investment or shame with public money?

While Albania has been engulfed in protests against a real estate project linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law for more than a month, Prime Minister Edi Rama is defending the spending of 4 million euros to organize a Kanye West concert near Tirana.

By Martin Lagrave, PARIS MATCH

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama defended on Wednesday, July 8, the decision to use 4 million euros of public funds for the concert of American rapper Kanye West, trying to calm the anger caused by this organization, which is fueling protests and calls for his resignation.

The concert is scheduled to take place on July 11, at a temporary stadium built specifically for the occasion on the outskirts of Tirana. Kanye West has been banned from performing in several European countries this summer after his statements that included praise for Adolf Hitler and content with Nazi symbols, US News writes.

"Shame, not with my money!"

"We allocated 4 million euros at the last minute to avoid embarrassing Albania in front of about 25,000 foreign visitors from 80 countries, who had already bought tickets to see Kanye West, while many of them feared the concert might be canceled," Edi Rama wrote on Facebook.

The head of government claims that the concert will bring the country at least 100 million euros in revenue, thanks to increased bookings in hotels and other accommodation structures around the concert date.

However, this argument did not appease the commentators on his page.

"Albania is ashamed to host a singer who admires Hitler," one user wrote.

"Shame, not with my money!", another reacted.

The concert takes place in an already tense political climate. For more than a month, daily protests have been taking place in Tirana. They began in reaction to the luxury resort project promoted by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

The protesters then expanded their demands to oppose other construction projects near protected coastal areas and are now demanding the resignation of Edi Rama, accusing his government of corruption - charges the prime minister denies.