– Gjon Bruçi, “Gazeta SOT” –
Statement addressed to veterans of the National Liberation War, members of families of martyrs, members and supporters of the Socialist Party and Albanian intellectuals
The following letter was written by writer and political activist Gjon Bruçi on the occasion of the desecration of “Mother Albania” on the mosaic of the National Museum in Tirana, Albania. It has been translated and published to inform an international audience of the event. — NEPH
Until now, I and many other citizens have warned about the danger of fascism’s resurgence in our country. Today, we can say openly that it (meaning fascism) is inside the parliament, in the central government and in its branches down to the grassroots level. The drafting and lightning‑fast approval — without citizen transparency — of the “Gender Equality” law was the bleached cherry on top of the black fascist cake served by both branches of power, legislative and executive, just a few days ago.
Before the ink had dried on the law’s approval — and even before it was decreed by the President of the Republic — the law’s promoters, members of the LGBTQ Association or Organization, in cooperation with levers of central power, displayed half the symbol of that very law not on just any facade, but right on the facade of the National Historical Museum.
On November 17, 2025, as Tirana’s citizens were preparing to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the city’s liberation, they stepped out of their homes for the traditional march only to be confronted with the “oddity” that had appeared on the museum’s mosaic, right there in Skanderbeg Square. The woman dressed in the traditional xhubleta with the rifle of freedom raised high — who stands at the top of the famous mosaic depicting centuries of Albanian history — had been “shaved bald,” and the right side of her chest was blurred out. The bald head and mutilated chest — courtesy of the hands of the painters or sculptors from the Ministry of Culture, that is, the government — closely resembled the symbol of the association of transvestites or transgender individuals. This unusual image on the country’s most important historic and artistic site dampened the energy of the planned demonstration, redirecting citizens into a debate that, thanks to communication tools, quickly spread across the entire country.
As if to complete the scene of this newly created situation, right after the midday news, TV Top Channel aired the show Shqipëria Live. At the centre of this broadcast was precisely the half‑symbol of LGBTQ, newly displayed on the National Museum. Among the participants in the discussion panel, Zhaklina stood out — the fiery representative of the association in question — who did not allow others the space to express their views.
Nevertheless, although the debate got heated from both sides, we, the viewers, managed to grasp not only the essence of the issue but also the true authors behind this perverse spectacle — and above all, we understood the goal of this perversity, which didn’t even wait a week after the green‑card vote from our MPs to erupt.
At first, when the news came only from the daily papers and their published photos, journalists and opinion writers said that the “installation” placed above the head of the woman with the xhubleta and the rifle was meant to raise awareness about breast cancer — an installation that would remain there for only twelve days to symbolize the fact that one in twelve women in our country is at risk of breast cancer. This somewhat calmed us, as we remembered that for this very reason, many government officials and MPs had already pinned small banana‑coloured ribbons on their jacket lapels back in October. But the debate on the Shqipëria Live panel — especially Zhaklina’s speeches — shed light on the initially murky picture.
This perverse symbol — even if it were acceptable to citizens — had no place on the mosaic of the National Historical Museum, nor on any other artwork, engraving or sculpture. These signs, besides appearing on the jackets of officials who claim to love women… could have been placed on any kind of canvas or facade, but never on our Historical Museum. Much less should such a perverse symbol for LGBTQ people or similar associations be placed there.
So then?
The purpose was clear: to place a “half” LGBTQ symbol temporarily, as a test, to see whether citizens would accept it or not. If accepted, the temporary nature of the symbol would then gain “residency” in the most visible and significant area of Skanderbeg Square — and, naturally, later in public squares throughout the country — to be presented as the most positive asset in the lead‑up to joining the European Union. As the Prime Minister stated in Brussels, “we accept EU membership even without the right to a veto, and even without the right to vote” — in other words, without an identity!
I wrote this simply, so I believe readers will understand it easily. Therefore, I won’t elaborate further, because I wish to make an appeal to all citizens — especially to the Organization of National Liberation War Veterans, the National Organization of Martyrs of the Homeland, patriotic, social, cultural and military organizations, members and supporters of the Socialist Party, scientific and cultural institutions, and to true Albanian intellectuals of all backgrounds:
The members of these political and social organizations make up the overwhelming majority of the Albanian population. This is shown by the victories across four terms of Socialist rule, in which you entrusted your votes, believing this party was the one that best defends the National Liberation War and the achievements of half a century of socialism, when the party was known as the Party of Labour — and you, in the name of socialism, still consider the Socialist Party as its rightful successor.
You have been deceived and, as a result, misled. Misled and deceived to the core. The Socialist Party has long abandoned the path you think it follows. In its third mandate, and especially in this fourth one — which began on May 11, 2025 — thanks also to its charismatic leader, who is also the Prime Minister, this political entity has fully embraced the path of fascism from the years 1939 to 1944. This party and its government have, for several years now, neither defended the National Liberation War nor shown any intention of doing so in the future. And that is only half the problem. The greater danger lies in the fact that the head of this party — and at the same time, Prime Minister Rama — together with a small clique shaped by anti‑Albanian ideology, aims, will continue to aim and will ultimately succeed in dismantling the Albanian nation. He adopted this objective from the very first days he came to lead the Socialist Party and the atate, but it is only now that he is revealing it openly — now that he has completely flattened both the party and the state itself. The law on “gender equality” is aimed at striking the Albanian family, which is the nucleus of society. If the family falls, society collapses — it becomes a victim of degeneration, which leads to the disintegration of the nation. The LGBTQ law in question is just one small piece of the reforms and counter‑reforms that Rama has initiated and completed, which, in essence, are aimed at dismantling our nation by entirely eliminating the Albanian race — a race that has always stood as an obstacle to powerful states at the crossroads of their East-West interests, and vice versa.
In the current situation, this is not about the role of the opposition — no appeal can be made to it. The opposition, led by Sali Berisha since 1990, has politically died at least four times: in 1997; during the 1998 coup attempt; in the tragic Gërdec incident; and on January 21, 2011. If Sali and his clan still survive today, this is the “credit” of the Socialist Party and its leader and Prime Minister, Rama — supported by Euro‑Atlantic foreigners — who treat Berisha like a garden scarecrow guarding Rama’s “vegetables” from crows. Rama and the foreigners know very well that if Berisha falls, Rama will fall too. But if both fall — who could come next??!!! That remains an unsolved dilemma. And for that reason, the détente between the Rama-Berisha duo continues and will continue.
The only real solution lies in organized action by the individuals and organizations I mentioned above. It is in your hands — in our hands, in the hands of all the people — to prevent the implementation of this anti‑Albanian strategy embraced by Rama and Berisha. If we stay silent, we are finished!
This simple call is addressed to every Albanian — but especially to intellectuals, whom the people have educated to guide and lead them in the difficult moments of their struggle for survival and existence.
(Translated from the Albanian original published in Gazeta SOT, November 18, 2025.)