By Reuters / Albania's prime minister defended his decision to spend 4 million euros ($4.56 million) on a concert by US rapper Kanye West, as he sought to calm anger over the event that has fueled public protests and calls for his resignation.
Kanye West, also known as YE, has been banned from performing in several European countries this summer after comments that included praise for Adolf Hitler and content with Nazi imagery.
The concert, scheduled for July 11, on the outskirts of Tirana, will take place in an improvised stadium built specifically for the event.
"We allocated 4 million euros at the last minute to avoid Albania's embarrassment in the eyes of nearly 25,000 foreign visitors from 80 countries who had already purchased tickets to see Kanye West, while many others were wary that the concert could be canceled," Prime Minister Edi Rama wrote on Facebook.
Rama said the event was expected to generate at least 100 million euros in revenue for the country after an increase in accommodation bookings around the time of the concert.
Rama's announcement attracted a flood of negative comments on his Facebook page.
“Albania is ashamed to welcome a singer who admires Hitler,” said one commenter. “Shame, not with my money!” said another.
Daily protests have been taking place in Tirana for more than a month. They were sparked by plans for a luxury resort by US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Protesters later denounced other coastal development projects near protected areas and also demanded Rama's resignation, accusing his government of corruption, a claim Rama denies. ©Albanian adaptation LAPSI.al
