The political clash has also moved onto social media, after opposition claims that around 200 pages and accounts linked to the protest have been shut down or blocked. Sali Berisha presented this as an act of censorship and a sign of fear of the public reaction.
Berisha’s reaction after the blockings
The leader of the Democratic Party reacted publicly after, according to him, around 200 social media pages linked to the protest were shut down and blocked.
Berisha claims the government is behind these blockings and that Prime Minister Edi Rama, according to his account, is using censorship to curb the spread of the protest in the online space.
Allegations of pressure and intimidation
In his statement, Berisha said the protest is continuing despite what he described as attacks, propaganda and pressure exerted on protesters.
He also accused the police of violence and intimidation, presenting the situation as part of a broader effort to weaken mobilization against the government.
Social media at the center of the clash
According to Berisha, the protest has drawn wide public attention and has dominated discussions on social media, which, he says, prompted the authorities’ response.
The claim that accounts have been blocked also shifts the debate to online freedom of expression, an area where a lack of transparency over the reasons for page closures often leaves room for political interpretations.
Political message on continuing the protest
At the end of his reaction, Berisha said the protesters would not back down and would continue to come out to the square every night.
The statement comes at a time when the opposition is trying to present the protest not only as a confrontation on the ground, but also as a battle against what it considers control of the public and digital space.
Up to this stage, no public institutional explanation has been presented regarding the specific reasons for blocking these accounts.
It is precisely this lack of clarification that is further fueling the political clash and suspicions over how public debate is being managed on social platforms.