Sali Berisha has expressed his support for the student protests, stating that the DP will offer maximum support and protection for what he described as a "rescue revolt for Albania."
In his statement, Berisha called on citizens, businesses and supporters of the Democratic Party to join the students, while accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of looting public property and mismanaging the country's assets.
"I have heard voices these days who are not against the students, they are pro-students, but who scream to the heavens that this property or that property is being touched. I am absolutely against touching property, but I tell these friends of mine that the greatest thief of all time of the properties you sanctify is Edi Rama and you would do well to join the students.
I am not about to touch the properties, but I can never ignore that the biggest destroyer of properties, the robber, the biggest looter of the properties of Albanians is Edi Rama, the narco-dictator that you cannot call a narco-dictator. The system based on drugs, which destroyed our economy, based on the theft of billions and billions of euros, based on the theft of billions and billions of public assets, must be overthrown a minute ago.
Therefore, every Albanian must listen to this voice that emanates from the depths of the purest conscience of Albanian society and the nation, to join them as parents, as grandparents, as peers because they are waging the most powerful battle to save this country.
Let's join them because every day we are seeing the most horrific scenes we have ever seen. Students lying on the ground and Albanian, Serbian or whatever drug gangs are attacking them like animals with their boots on their limbs to break their bones, kicking them in the head. They turned the Ministry of Education into the most hideous ministry of crime.
Did you see the hall of that ministry filled with living bodies, thrown to the cement floor, some with conscience, some without conscience by the barbarity of drug bandits? What more can be expected? Every hour is a great loss for us.
I invite every democrat, every Albanian citizen, every businessman to stand in solidarity with the students. To use the power of their business against this government and in support of the students. To lower the shutters, to put up a sign saying I am on strike, like those who are skipping school and are facing tooth and nail with the fierce enemies of our being.
"The DP, which from the first minute has lined up and decided to provide full and total support, and the maximum protection it can provide for the students. On this occasion, I salute all students, all high school students for their historic decision to go out to Mejdan Square, to Men's Square to confront this heartless gang. I thank all citizens who have supported them, all democrats and I guarantee that, as until today, the DP will provide total support and the maximum protection it can provide to this movement, this savior revolt for Albania and Albanians", said Berisha.
