Berisha in Korçë: Emigration and poverty are emptying the country, we will overturn this situation

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, was in Korçë on Friday afternoon, as part of the “Foltorja e Ripërtëritjes” (Renewal Rostrum) tour.

In his speech, Berisha criticised Edi Rama’s government, dwelling on emigration, poverty, prices and pensions. He also accused the government of mismanagement and corruption, while calling for the mobilisation of the opposition.

“The DP and the opposition got through their own battles, but those were not an end in themselves. They had one purpose: a real opposition, which would turn into the locomotive of the opposition forces and of Albania’s salvation from this regime. That is why this Renewal Rostrum is an appeal, a call to arms for every citizen, for all of Korçë on its feet. For every person from Pogradec and Pogradec on its feet. For Kolonjë and its people on their feet. For Devoll and its people on their feet,” he said.

Berisha stated that, according to him, emigration has brought a significant decrease in the Albanian population.

“Today in Korçë, today in Albania, as many children are born as were born 100 years ago, when Albania had a total of 1 million inhabitants in its territory. Today, out of 1,000 Albanians resident in Albania, 466 are registered in the EU. If we add those who live in other countries outside the EU, I guarantee you that over 60 per cent of the nation is no longer in Albania,” Berisha said.

Berisha went on to the economic situation and prices, claiming they have risen more than wages.

“I was in Strasbourg, at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I went into a supermarket out of curiosity — absolutely all the prices were either equal to or twice as low as here. But the French earn wages at least five times higher than ours.”

In conclusion, Berisha said the opposition will aim, in his words, to change the social and economic situation in the country, dwelling on what he described as the loss of “compassion” in society.

“We will overturn this situation in the most urgent manner.”