Albania's Prime Minister defends Ksh.589M Kanye West concert

Kanye West, who is also known as YE, has been banned from performing ​in several European countries this summer following remarks that have ​included praise of Adolf Hitler and content featuring Nazi ⁠imagery.

The concert, scheduled for July 11 just outside Tirana, will take ​place in a makeshift stadium constructed specifically for the event.

“We allocated €4 ​million at the last minute to avoid embarrassing Albania in the eyes of nearly 25,000 foreign visitors from 80 countries who had already purchased tickets ​to see Kanye West, while many others were wary that the ​concert might be cancelled,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Facebook.

Rama said the ‌event ⁠was expected to generate at least €100 million in revenue for the country after a surge in accommodation bookings around the time of the concert.

Rama's announcement attracted a flow of negative comments on his ​Facebook page.

“Albania is ​disgraced when ⁠it welcomes a singer who admires Hitler,” one commenter said. “Shame, not with my money!” said another.

Daily protests ​have taken place in Tirana for more than ​a month. ⁠They were sparked by plans for a luxury resort by U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The protesters later denounced other coastal development projects ⁠near ​protected areas and have also demanded ​the resignation of Rama, accusing his government of corruption, a claim Rama denies.