Albania: Clashes as protesters call on government to resign
The protesters demand that the current leftist government be replaced by a caretaker cabinet. This comes as Tirana prepares to start discussions with the European Union over membership in the bloc.
Protesters in Albania demand the current government's replacement
Image: Hameraldi Agolli/AP/dpa/picture alliance
Albanian police fired teargas to disperse opposition protesters who gathered in the streets of the capital Tirana to call on longtime leftist Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets, calling out chants such as: "Down with the dictatorship."
The protests, organized by the right-wing opposition, demand the replacement of the ruling government with a technocratic caretaker cabinet ahead of next year's parliamentary election.
What happened in the protests?
More than 1,000 police officers were deployed across Albania's capital Tirana ahead of the protests.
Protesters hurled petrol bombs at several government buildings, burning posters of the prime minister. Police said ten officers were hurt, while some protesters were seen with streaming eyes from tear gas.
Local media reported some were taken to hospital.
Police intensified the use of tear gas as protesters approached the parliament building.
This comes after years of corruption accusations against Prime Minister Rama's Socialists, mostly from the conservative opposition.
"[Rama] should give up, he should resign, he should go away, he should go in jail for the rest of his life," one protester told the Reuters news agency.
In office since 2013, Rama has won three consecutive elections.
Albanian police fired teargas to disperse opposition protesters who gathered in the streets of the capital Tirana to call on longtime leftist Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets, calling out chants such as: "Down with the dictatorship."
The protests, organized by the right-wing opposition, demand the replacement of the ruling government with a technocratic caretaker cabinet ahead of next year's parliamentary election.
What happened in the protests?
More than 1,000 police officers were deployed across Albania's capital Tirana ahead of the protests.
Protesters hurled petrol bombs at several government buildings, burning posters of the prime minister. Police said ten officers were hurt, while some protesters were seen with streaming eyes from tear gas.
Local media reported some were taken to hospital.
Police intensified the use of tear gas as protesters approached the parliament building.
This comes after years of corruption accusations against Prime Minister Rama's Socialists, mostly from the conservative opposition.
"[Rama] should give up, he should resign, he should go away, he should go in jail for the rest of his life," one protester told the Reuters news agency.
In office since 2013, Rama has won three consecutive elections.
Albania's opposition has been holding protests at parliament against the current government
Image: Florion Goga/REUTERS
What else has prompted the recent protests?
Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party has also been holding protests at parliament in the past week after party official Ervin Salianji was imprisoned over "giving false testimony."
The party says the case is politically motivated.
The Democrats are also seeking Berisha's release from house arrest. The former prime minister has been confined to his house since last year on charges of "passive corruption."
Opposition leader Sali Berisha has been under house arrest for almost a yearImage: Armando Babani/AP/picture alliance
Both the US and the European Union (EU) have urged the opposition to engage in dialogue with the government, saying violence won't help the country integrate into the bloc.
Later this month, Albania will start discussions with the EU as to how the country aligns with it on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption.
This comes after the bloc's 2020 decision to start full membership negotiations with Tirana.
ftm/ (Reuters/AP)
Both the US and the European Union (EU) have urged the opposition to engage in dialogue with the government, saying violence won't help the country integrate into the bloc.
Later this month, Albania will start discussions with the EU as to how the country aligns with it on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption.
This comes after the bloc's 2020 decision to start full membership negotiations with Tirana.
ftm/ (Reuters/AP)
Albania’s opposition protests and demands a caretaker Cabinet
BY LLAZAR SEMINI
October 7, 2024
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Opposition supporters in Albania protested again Monday, demanding that the government be replaced by a technocratic caretaker Cabinet before next year’s parliamentary election.
The conservative opposition has long accused Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialists of corruption, manipulating earlier voting and usurping powers of the judiciary and others.
The Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha has been holding protests at parliament in the past week after a colleague was convicted of slander and imprisoned in a case they consider as being politically motivated. Ervin Salianji has appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court.
The Democrats, who have staged sometimes violent protests against the government since 2013, also seek Berisha’s release from house arrest, where he was put during an investigation of alleged corruption.
A few thousand protesters gathered in front of the main government building in Tirana shouting “Down with the dictatorship” and “Berisha, Berisha.” After briefly clashing with police, they hurled Molotov cocktails.
Outside the governing Socialist Party headquarters, they again hurled Molotov cocktails and burned a poster of the prime minister, who leads the party. They then did the same outside the Interior Ministry and city hall.
Outside parliament, police used tear gas to move them away.
Hundreds of police officers had taken up positions to protect government institutions. Police said traffic was blocked on many streets downtown.
Police said 10 officers were hurt by Molotov cocktails, pyrotechnic items and hard objects. Some protesters were seen with streaming eyes from tear gas and a few were taken to a hospital, according to local media.
The Democrats’ secretary-general, Flamur Noka, ended the protest by pledging that the “civil disobedience” would continue.
The U.S. Embassy had warned its citizens to stay away from the protest.
The U.S. and European Union have urged the opposition to resume dialogue with the government, saying violence won’t help the country integrate into the 27-nation EU bloc.
In 2020, the EU decided to launch full membership negotiations with Albania, and later this month Tirana will start discussions with the bloc on how the country aligns with EU stances on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption.
___
Follow Llazar Semini at https://x.com/lsemini
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Albania's former prime minister Sali Berisha is formally charged with corruption
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An opposition protester holds a flare during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
An opposition supporter protests during a rally, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
Fire burns behind a riot police cordon during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
Opposition supporters scuffle with riot police during a anti-government rally, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
Fire burns behind a riot police cordon and in front of a poster depicting the Albania Prime minister Edi Rama during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
An opposition supporter waves a wooden stick to riot police during a anti-government rally, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
An Albania police man washes his face during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
BY LLAZAR SEMINI
October 7, 2024
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Opposition supporters in Albania protested again Monday, demanding that the government be replaced by a technocratic caretaker Cabinet before next year’s parliamentary election.
The conservative opposition has long accused Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialists of corruption, manipulating earlier voting and usurping powers of the judiciary and others.
The Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha has been holding protests at parliament in the past week after a colleague was convicted of slander and imprisoned in a case they consider as being politically motivated. Ervin Salianji has appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court.
The Democrats, who have staged sometimes violent protests against the government since 2013, also seek Berisha’s release from house arrest, where he was put during an investigation of alleged corruption.
A few thousand protesters gathered in front of the main government building in Tirana shouting “Down with the dictatorship” and “Berisha, Berisha.” After briefly clashing with police, they hurled Molotov cocktails.
Outside the governing Socialist Party headquarters, they again hurled Molotov cocktails and burned a poster of the prime minister, who leads the party. They then did the same outside the Interior Ministry and city hall.
Outside parliament, police used tear gas to move them away.
Hundreds of police officers had taken up positions to protect government institutions. Police said traffic was blocked on many streets downtown.
Police said 10 officers were hurt by Molotov cocktails, pyrotechnic items and hard objects. Some protesters were seen with streaming eyes from tear gas and a few were taken to a hospital, according to local media.
The Democrats’ secretary-general, Flamur Noka, ended the protest by pledging that the “civil disobedience” would continue.
The U.S. Embassy had warned its citizens to stay away from the protest.
The U.S. and European Union have urged the opposition to resume dialogue with the government, saying violence won’t help the country integrate into the 27-nation EU bloc.
In 2020, the EU decided to launch full membership negotiations with Albania, and later this month Tirana will start discussions with the bloc on how the country aligns with EU stances on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption.
___
Follow Llazar Semini at https://x.com/lsemini
RELATED STORIES
Albania's former prime minister Sali Berisha is formally charged with corruption
Albania's opposition violently interrupt parliament session after lawmaker is sentenced to prison
EU, US urge Albania's opposition to end violence and resume dialogue with government
An opposition protester holds a flare during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
An opposition supporter protests during a rally, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
Fire burns behind a riot police cordon during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
Opposition supporters scuffle with riot police during a anti-government rally, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
Fire burns behind a riot police cordon and in front of a poster depicting the Albania Prime minister Edi Rama during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
An opposition supporter waves a wooden stick to riot police during a anti-government rally, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
An Albania police man washes his face during an anti-government rally set up by the opposition, in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
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