Antigovernment protesters clash with authorities in Tiranas city center

Protesters Clash with Police in Albania’s Capital Over Corruption Allegations

Thousands of protesters gathered in front of Tirana’s main government building on Saturday evening, led by opposition leader Sali Berisha. The rally, organized by the Democratic Party, aimed to demand Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation and call for early, free, and fair elections. Berisha urged the crowd to “unite” against the government.

As protesters marched towards parliament, tensions escalated, with groups attempting to break through police cordons. Stones and Molotov cocktails were thrown, resulting in minor injuries to at least 10 officers. According to official reports, 25 protesters were arrested during the incident.

The opposition has been critical of the Socialist Party government, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama and his allies of corruption. In November, a special corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is also the infrastructure and energy minister, over allegations related to public procurement corruption. Balluku denies the claims, while Rama condemned her suspension as an “interference in the independence of the executive”.

A parliamentary committee will review on Wednesday a request from anticorruption prosecutors to lift Balluku’s immunity, which would allow for her potential arrest. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about organized crime and corruption in Albania, which remain obstacles to the country’s EU accession bid.

In recent months, several high-profile figures have been accused of corruption, including Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, who was arrested last year on suspicion of corruption and money laundering. Two former ministers under Rama have also faced embezzlement charges. In October 2024, President Ilir Meta was arrested on accusations of corruption and money laundering.

Source: Al Jazeera