Albanian Premier Edi Rama excluded the idea of snap elections, promising they will be held only in 2021 as planned. Rama made his promise in Durrës, where he took part in the meeting of the local branch of the Socialist Party. Originally Rama had planned a meeting in Shkodër but his plan changed after learning local citizens there had blocked the national road not to allow him enter the north city.

In his efforts to humor the Socialists, Rama mocked and insulted Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha for the relinquishment of the parliamentary mandates of the opposition, saying the opposition made a big mistake and Basha now “has dropped the fig leaf and showed his Willy”.

On Friday Rama invited Basha to talk, but the Democrat leader responded “we’ll talk on March 16”, when the next big opposition rally is programmed.

This is not the first time Rama avoids the citizens and their protests. Earlier this week he abandoned the majority in the parliament, surrounded by protesters, and went in a meeting in Lushnjë.