TIRANA, June 10 – Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj took part in the Albanian Radio and Television talk show Trialog, hosted by journalist Alba Alishani. She said the recent protests in Albania began as a public reaction to images of violence that shocked public opinion.
Meanwhile, Ibrahimaj said protest demands changed over time. She said they no longer relate to the project that initially triggered the debate. She added that many early protesters did not have full information about the project. In addition, she said the prime minister later explained all steps related to the project and its development process, and she said the protests shifted toward broader political demands.
At the same time, the minister said dialogue must take place at a clearly defined table of representation. She said civil society must present identifiable requests before entering negotiations. She also said institutions need clear and concrete points of contact. Meanwhile, Ibrahimaj said the government cannot take decisions based on emotional reactions. She said the Socialist Party won support in the general elections one year ago and said the government holds more votes than the number of protesters in the square.
In addition, she said past negotiations produced acceptable outcomes for both sides. She said current conditions make dialogue difficult because protest demands continue to change. Finally, she said any negotiation depends on structured representation and said shifting demands prevent a stable process.
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