The protest, which according to participants has entered its 90th day, is showing open cracks among the protesters themselves. At a meeting called by Alfred Cako, a group of participants accused the current leadership of the gathering of not representing them and called for another channel through which to articulate their demands.
A parallel group against the current leadership
The initiative for the meeting was taken by Alfred Cako, who brought together several protesters who oppose the way the protest in the square is being managed. Their main claim was that the current voice of the gathering has been captured by a certain group and that other parts of the protesters have been left without representation.
In this climate of dissatisfaction, the idea was raised that the movement should have clearer leadership and more structured representation, something that essentially highlights the crisis of trust within the protest itself.
The proposal for a “parallel microphone”
One of the most concrete proposals to emerge from the meeting was the creation of a “parallel microphone” in the square, where protesters who claim they have so far had no space would be able to speak. The demand was presented as a solution to what participants in this grouping see as a monopoly over public speech at the protest.
Cako also proposed setting up a working group to develop the protesters’ ideas and demands. According to him, the new grouping aims not only at the removal of Prime Minister Edi Rama, but also at avoiding chaos in the event of the government’s fall.
Debates even among those seeking change
The attempt to build an alternative voice did not pass without opposition. Within the group itself there were debates over the way of organizing, over the direction the protest should take, and over the usual question that arises in every movement without a clear structure: who speaks on behalf of whom.
One of the participants openly opposed the idea of creating a new structure with rules and restrictions, arguing that this would simply repeat the model they are criticizing. The discussions became tense, leading to personal exchanges and to one of the participants leaving the meeting.
A call for representation, but without full consensus
At the meeting, Cako proposed that the discussion be led by Kastriot Çipi and asked that the debates not slide into religious or regional divisions. However, even this effort was not enough to avoid clashes among those present.
The point that appeared to unite most of the group was the claim that they are not represented by the protest’s current microphone and that they are seeking space to articulate their own demands. But developments at the meeting showed that dissatisfaction with the existing leadership has not yet been accompanied by a consolidated alternative.
The latest clash makes clear that the protest’s crisis is linked not only to its political objective, but also to control of speech, representation and leadership on the ground.
Instead of a united front, groupings are emerging in the square that are challenging one another over the legitimacy of the protesters’ voice.