Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted after the protest held in Vlora against the construction of the Jewish Museum, a gathering that was accompanied by tensions between protesters and police. In the version presented by the government, the works are not being carried out in the historic building of the Patriotic Club “Labëria,” but in another building near the Ethnographic Museum.
Clash over the construction site in Vlora
Protesters opposed the project, claiming that the works are being carried out in the historic “Labëria” building, and tried to enter the construction site where the Jewish Museum is being built.
The situation became tense on the ground, while the debate later shifted to the political level, with the prime minister’s direct intervention.
Rama denies damage to the “Labëria” museum
In a response published on the platform “X,” Rama rejected the accusations that the “Labëria” Museum is being destroyed. According to him, and according to the clarifications from the authorities he cited, the Jewish Museum is being built in another building, a residence dating from the 1850s near the Ethnographic Museum.
The prime minister presented the project as part of interventions for the city’s historical memory, insisting that the building contested by the protesters is not the one where the intervention is taking place.
Harsh language toward protesters and Leskaj
Beyond the clarification about the project, Rama’s reaction was accompanied by personal attacks and insulting language toward the protesters, especially toward Bujar Leskaj.
This shifted attention not only to the substance of the debate over cultural heritage, but also to the way the prime minister chose to respond to public opposition.
What the government says about the “revitalization” of Labëria
Rama stated that, in parallel with the Jewish Museum, the revitalization of the “Labëria” Museum is also planned. According to him, the Albanian-American Development Foundation has allocated $200,000 for drafting the project for this intervention.
In his response, he described the “Labëria” building as degraded and claimed that it will be turned into another asset for Vlora, alongside the new museum.
The controversy over the project remains open amid objections on the ground and the government’s official version regarding the location of the works and the fate of the historic building.
At the center of the debate are not only the announced investment, but also transparency over interventions in historically significant areas and the way institutions are responding to public concerns.