Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe reacted through a long statement emphasizing that protest is a democratic right, but does not replace governance.
According to the socialist, peaceful protests are an essential element of democracy and should be accepted as such, while the government should not focus on reacting to them, but on exercising its function.
Erion Braçe’s full reaction:
Oh no, oh no, protest is not governance!
Peaceful protest is a legitimate right, an essential element of democracy;
We must get used to it, accept it as such; a government is certainly not comfortable with protest in the face, but it’s a big deal.
The government is not there to mourn the protest, with it and from it; the government is there to govern!
Govern! This is what you do, govern!
We are entering a difficult season – from the point of view of the weather, its consequences and therefore from the point of view of services;
We are entering the hot and dry season and the El Niño phenomenon – for which everyone is getting ready starting next week, will also affect us with all the emergency it brings;
We must govern – get ready from an environmental point of view, especially with fires, from a health point of view, especially with the impact on the health of the elderly, children and the chronically ill, from a labor point of view, especially to protect workers, their health when working outdoors, from a service point of view, especially for the supply of water for family and agricultural use; we are entering the high season of tourism – the largest influx is coming now and we must be ready with everything, including services that were not there or did not function last year;
All of this is an emergency!
In the daily routine of governance, we must implement the budget; by the end of May, we had collected even more revenue, but we had spent less – it is money that the economy, jobs, and people lack; we must invest!
Just as we must do the things we said we would do; I am still waiting for the decision on mothers of children with disabilities; I am still waiting for the decision on newborn children, the new scheme that must be enriched with other elements, including the extension of maternity leave and more.
There is much to be done from what we have committed to do!
The protest is on its legitimate path; the protesters are doing their job; the government’s job is to govern the country and serve! Even those in protest want services, while there are many more who are not in protest who deserve services. This is the government’s job; if it doesn’t do it, it’s in vain!