Key facts
- Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama defended a €4 million government expenditure for a Kanye West concert.
- The concert is scheduled for July 11 near Tirana.
- Rama cited avoiding national embarrassment and boosting tourism revenue as reasons for the funding.
- The event is projected to generate at least €100 million in revenue for the country.
- The decision has intensified public protests and calls for Rama's resignation.
- Kanye West has faced performance bans in other European countries due to controversial remarks.
Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the government's decision to allocate €4 million for a concert by U.S. rapper Kanye West, a move that has ignited public anger and protests. Rama stated on Facebook that the funds were a last-minute allocation to prevent Albania from being embarrassed in front of thousands of international visitors and ticket holders.
The concert, scheduled for July 11 near the capital Tirana, is expected to generate at least €100 million in revenue for the country, according to Rama. However, the decision has been met with widespread criticism online, with commenters expressing shame and opposition to using public money for an artist who has faced performance bans in other European countries due to controversial remarks, including praise for Adolf Hitler.
Albania has been experiencing daily protests in Tirana for over a month. These demonstrations initially focused on plans for a luxury resort development by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. The protests have since broadened to include opposition to other coastal development projects near protected areas, and demonstrators are demanding Rama's resignation, accusing his government of corruption, which Rama denies.