Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government has not ignored the demands voiced during the ongoing nightly protests, despite what he described as the protesters' unwillingness to engage in direct dialogue with authorities.

Speaking in the latest episode of his weekly podcast Flasim ("Let's Talk"), Rama said both he and his team have been closely monitoring the concerns raised during the demonstrations.

“The government has not closed its eyes or ears to the demands being expressed every evening during the civic protests,” Rama said.

The prime minister argued that the demonstrations consist of two distinct groups: citizens with genuine concerns and grievances, and what he described as individuals seeking to exploit the unrest for political purposes.

“I am paying very close attention, and an entire team is carefully listening to everything that should be heard from the boulevard protests,” Rama said. “There is the ‘flowing water’ of people who sincerely came out because they are genuinely concerned or face real problems, and there is the ‘black crust’ of frustrated failures from all walks of life who have created a convulsive situation where the inevitable elements of violence have also emerged.”

Rama also suggested that acts of violence seen during some of the demonstrations have contributed to escalating tensions, linking them to politically motivated groups rather than the broader body of protesters.

The prime minister’s remarks come as anti-government demonstrations continue in Tirana, with protesters demanding political accountability and the release of individuals arrested during recent clashes with police.