We are all witnesses to how, in January of this year, amid the greatest political crisis caused by the Balluku and Akshi files, Edi Rama clung — like a man clinging to the back of a shoe — to Ivanka Trump during her visit to Vlora and Zvernec. The media controlled by Rama and his paparazzi followed her step by step for two consecutive days. Arlind Qorri and the other "blind ones" went neither to protest nor to block her way. Why? Because Rama had no interest in that.

A few days ago, an AI-generated photo circulated rapidly on social media showing the fence erected on the private property in Zvernec bearing a sign with the Israeli flag.

Those who remember it can clearly see that this protest resembles — in its organization and actors — the protest against chemical weapons. That protest had been organized by Edi Rama himself and his network of associations. It got out of his control when the opposition entered the picture.

Two years ago, Edi Rama changed the law on protected areas. No one rose up in protest. The opposition sent the law to the Constitutional Court, which sided with Rama, and again no one protested.

Almost two years ago, from the podium of the UN General Assembly, Edi Rama announced the initiative to declare the Bektashi state by removing part of Albanian territory. Those who today protest that "Albania is not for sale" should not have let him land at Rinas. But they did not move an inch.

Three years ago, Edi Rama reached an agreement with the Italian government for a refugee camp in Gjader, removing that territory from Albanian state jurisdiction. Today's patriots again did not protest.

Edi Rama gifted the Port of Durres along with the surrounding territory — valued at two billion euros — to a company from the United Arab Emirates, eliminating the 2,000-year-old port and leaving Albania without a port. The opposition sent it to the Constitutional Court and it again sided with Rama. Today's protesters were nowhere to be seen.

Edi Rama encroached on the territory of Butrint to build a resort and no one rose up to protest.

Along 450 kilometers of coastline, Rama has rampaged greedily, granting permits for resorts that will launder money from corruption and organized crime. Again, not a single protest.

What we know so far about Zvernec is that it is private property, which a group of foreign investors — including Jared Kushner — has approached, and that the investment is estimated to reach around 4 billion euros.

The noise and protest against it has failed to articulate a clear motive or what exactly is being protested.

Some say it is a matter of property rights.

Others say it is a matter of corruption.

Others say it is a matter of ecology and the environment.

Some say it is an ideological matter.

Others cite geopolitical concerns, linking it to the so-called Israeli occupation.

To all those who are protesting, I could say that elections have consequences and that those of you who voted for Edi Rama deserve what you get. But that would be a cynical approach.

As stated above, since there is no clear articulation from those protesting, we are left with nothing but to speculate as to who stands behind the organization of this protest. First of all, we must make a clear distinction between those who protest with heart and soul — regardless of what they are protesting — who are the majority, and the organizers with a specific agenda.

In conditions where Rama's foundations have been shaken in Washington, it is in his miserable nature to use protests against the family of President Trump in order to boost his own credibility, with the argument that he is bearing a cost from them and should be rewarded. The same scenario as with the chemical weapons.

The anti-Israeli rhetoric — as if an Israeli colony is being built here or Palestinians from Gaza are being brought in — resembles a foreign hand. Let us be clear: Albanians, and I include myself among you, will never allow this. But so far I have seen no such evidence.

The competition from neighboring countries, or even local actors primarily from organized crime, would not surprise me in conditions of total state capture. Nor would it surprise me if all these motives were combined.

Finally, two words for the opposition. Even though the protesters try to make it complicit with Rama, it has no connection and has made every effort to stop Rama. Many of those protesting today, a year ago either voted for Rama or helped him. Therefore, it should not feel guilty. That said, the opposition must come out with a clear articulation.

First, its political agenda is not dictated by Rama, Marxist-Islamist groups, foreign agendas, or organized crime.

Second, it must place state interests above party interests. A state interest consists of attracting serious foreign investors who operate in accordance with the laws of the country, including the family of President Trump. Such protests risk driving away serious foreign investors once and for all.

Third, it must view this protest, among other things, as a clash between systems: on one side, the rule of law, market economy, and the sanctity of private property; and on the other, neo-Marxist revolutionary revanchism.

Fourth, uncompromising struggle against Edi Rama's narco-regime until his removal and the bringing before the law of all those who have violated it.

Fifth, it must come out with a clear articulation of what its vision is for the country's economic development, with particular emphasis on tourism and foreign investors.

Thank you.