The 4th day of the protest closes / The government reduced the price of oil from 223 lek to 217 lek / l

Although the Government approved a normative act to reduce the price of fuel, citizens also demand a reduction in the price of other products.

Despite the fact that the protest was declared closed, some students continue their march, heading towards the Tirana Police Directorate. They demand the release of the escorts during the three days of protest.

Citizens gathered from several places in Albania, unanimously said that this was not a “political” protest.

National Hydrocarbon Management Board at the end of the meeting, sources told Top Channel, decided that today’s market price of oil from 223 lek to go to 217 lek per liter.

In today’s protest, the protesters demanded from the Government to take immediate measures to stabilize prices and avoid abuses in the market. Another of their demands was the release of some protesters detained during the previous three days.

Meanwhile, there were protests in the districts, where in Lezha the protesters blocked the Lezha-Laç highway for several minutes, while in Klos of the Mat district the national road was blocked. Citizens also protested in Pogradec and Berat.

Although the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, announced that today the work of the control board of oil suppliers has started and the Government has gathered to approve at least anti-crisis, the citizens have gathered again.

Citizens with disabilities also joined the protest of citizens against the price increase, which gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to protesters who have gathered in front of the prime minister’s office, raising their voices for rising prices of basket products and the price of oil. On Facebook, while responding to commentators, Rama says he did not expect ‘a hardened minority to shout and curse’ for him to act. The Prime Minister emphasizes that today the scenarios for facing the consequences of the war in Ukraine will be ready.

Mother Liza was also present at the protest against the price increase. She says that after this government has left them homeless, it wants to leave them without bread.

“I am Mother Liza, she has shed the sweat of my children, our houses have been demolished, now they want to leave us without bread, their houses have been armored, while they have destroyed us“, Said mother Liza.

Well-known actor Florian Binaj has called on public figures to join the protest against the price increase. While expressing gratitude to all the participants in the protest, he said that they represent not only their families, but all those who could not be there today. Actor Irgen Çela and former journalist Marin Mema also joined the protest.

Actors Gent Kame joined the citizens’ protest today in front of the prime minister against the price increase.

“Albania is losing its people, Albanians are losing their identity. Expensiveness of life is a consequence, the problem is misgovernance. We want new spirit. I call on the police brothers and sisters, governments come and go, but do not betray your people, release those boysHe said.

An important detail of this protest in front of the Prime Minister was the fact of opposing a speech of a citizen who managed to get on the improvised podium, stating that only the opposition will be the god of this people. But, immediately after his statement, the protesters started shouting “down with politics” and that they had not filled the squares for any mayor, but for their fate.

“This is the Albania of Albanians, because we have flattened our political convictions. To take our destinies into our own hands “said one of the protesters.

Citizens’ revolt came after the morning of March 7, when the prices of various products, in supermarkets, or other services, such as road transport, experienced a drastic increase.

The price of oil, within 24 hours, cost them 30-35 lek more than the day before.

Activists, on the other hand, initiated the first rallies through online channels.

Thus, Wednesday afternoon found the citizens under the door of the “head of government”, as if to demand “accountability” for every penny spent more.

The demonstrations spread to the main axes of Tirana, “paralyzing” them. The next day, police structures, based on the evidence gathered, make arrests for various criminal offenses.

Another thing happened on Thursday afternoon, which offered two perspectives on the event.

That of the citizens who expressed their opposition below the office of the Prime Minister and that of Rama, who in a warning exit, was having an online conversation with his followers on Facebook.

Often, during the conversation, the cheers of the protesters were clearly heard, who interfered in the live video. The Prime Minister announced that the government cabinet would announce a concrete plan within 48 hours.

He emphasized, in particular, the unity, the truth and the facts of the problem.

In a soft tone, returning the citizens to the day of the earthquake and the pandemic, he stressed that “just as we defended the families of this country, so we will again defend the families of this country in this crisis situation.”

In less than 24 hours, the government brought all the oil suppliers to a table, announcing that a supervisory board would be set up for them.

This with the sole purpose of no longer having abusive prices that weigh on the pockets of citizens.

Rama this time, in harsher tones, promised that the oil suppliers would have their licenses revoked if the latter violated the established profit margin.

But even this did not stop the anger of the citizens.

At the same time, they gathered in front of the Prime Minister, while calling that on Saturday, March 12, they will continue with their cause.

Unlike the previous ones, where the citizens manifested separately, in different cities, today, “Albania” will gather in the square of the capital.