Commentary of the last two days/ Andi Bushati: From protests with children to masks and stones

The violent demonstrations of the last two days, reminiscent of a miniature of the events of '97, constitute a sudden turn of events in the protests that began last spring. At the beginning of the flamingo revolution, the demonstrators appeared with intelligent slogans, peaceful marches and a party on the boulevard, during which even children took part. 

They believed that by showing the government that they did not agree with its decision-making method, it would react positively. Some of them, citizens and perhaps with unseasoned political nerves, hoped that the barbed wire fence on a wonderful beach and the dragging of Eduart Subashi, who did not want it occupied, were the work of some crazy private individuals. In their minds, perhaps, the illusion still lingered that they lived in a democratic country, where hundreds of thousands of protesters in the square had the power to make the government change its mind.

But the faces of the uniformless bandits of Zvërnec are no different from those of the police officers who clashed with Klevi Metaj, the man symbol of anger in front of the Ministry of Education. Between these two episodes, several things have happened that have forced the peaceful demonstrators to turn into violent protesters, to exchange flamingos for masks, flowers for stones, and to let go of children to grab Molotov cocktails.

In the first serious attempt to analyze what was happening, after calling the people who had come out against him victims of a global conspiracy, Edi Rama spoke of empathy, listening, dialogue and trust. But as soon as he uttered these words, he said that he was not backing down from the promise he had made to Kushner and Artur Shehu to continue the project in Zvërnec.

On the other hand, while the public counted the days until she would end up in prison, Belinda Balluku's power grew and the defendant extended her tentacles over more institutions.

At the same time, the head of the intelligence service, Vlora Hyseni, instead of doing her job, was helping the head of government's expensive wine friend escape from SPAK.

On the other hand, Erion Veliaj snatched from his cell the powers that had waned in the management of the municipality, returning to the leadership of Tirana those people who had held power at the height of the 5D system.

Although it spoke of dialogue and loyal presence, the Renaissance ignored its supporters, even when they were forced to make the most serious gesture for a socialist, burning their party card to oppose territorial division. 

Without asking about the sensitivity to the environment that was at the genesis of the Flamingo movement, Edi Rama signed, with his arbitrary decision, another tower in Rinia Park. 

As if all of this were not enough, he introduced a total overhaul of the Criminal Procedure Code, which was perceived by a large part of the public as a protection for himself and current prisoners, but also for those who would steal in his name in the future.

So, the chain of events that followed each other these four months extinguished any hope or illusion that this regime has a minimal ability to listen or reflect. Even those who wanted to believe quickly realized that the Renaissance no longer has the strength to break away from the banditry and theft that are at the foundation of its power. The paradox of Rama's power is that it is softening, it shrinks; that it is becoming obedient, it is abandoned; that it is trying to improve, it is crumbling; that it is trying to democratize, it is disappearing.    

Some of his opponents knew this. That is why in 2017-2018 they preached that there could be no peaceful solution, with the criminalized system that Edi Rama had established. But the flamingos were distrustful of them too. They created a hygienic distance with the old opposition and yesterday's rulers. They stayed away from the traditional critics of this regime. They wanted to make, unaffected, their experience by betting on choosing the velvet path again.

It took these four months for even a part of them to reach the same conclusion that with Instagram, intelligent slogans, flowers and children in their arms, this autocracy can really be delegitimized, but that such a thing does not prevent it from delving deeper into crime. It is precisely this conclusion, drawn from the end of May until this October, that forced the students to wear masks and grab stones and Molotov cocktails. It was their turn to understand that against this violent gang, peace is not an option.

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