TIRANA, Albania — On Monday, the main opposition party in Albania staged a protest in the capital, Tirana, effectively blocking several major intersections. This demonstration was aimed at calling for the establishment of a technocratic caretaker government as the country approaches its parliamentary elections next year. The protest marked the first significant show of force since the party leader’s recent release from house arrest.
Despite adverse weather conditions, including cold temperatures and rain, members of the center-right Democratic Party gathered to impede traffic at five key junctions. They express their dissatisfaction with the ruling left-wing government under Prime Minister Edi Rama, accusing it of various malpractices such as corruption, electoral manipulation, and undermining the judiciary.
Sali Berisha, the leader of the Democratic Party, who was placed under house arrest last month due to a court order violation related to corruption charges, announced the gathering. “Under Rama, there is no real election, only a battle for control,” stated Berisha, emphasizing the unyielding nature of their struggle against the current administration. He proclaimed that elections would not be boycotted, and their fight would continue until Rama is ousted.
In response to the protest, a significant number of police were mobilized to secure government buildings and maintain traffic flow. After approximately 90 minutes, authorities began to clear protesters from the intersections, which escalated tensions and resulted in some altercations.
Earlier in the year, demonstrations by the Democratic Party and its supporters occurred following the arrests of Berisha and former President Ilir Meta. The opposition has claimed that these legal actions were politically motivated rather than legitimate charges of corruption.
Both the United States and the European Union have urged the opposition to engage in dialogue with the government, highlighting that violent protests will not aid Albania’s integration into the EU. The country is currently discussing alignment with EU standards on crucial issues, including the rule of law and anti-corruption measures. Albania aims to achieve membership in the European Union by 2030, as announced by Prime Minister Rama.
The upcoming parliamentary elections in Albania are scheduled for May 11, which will also mark a significant milestone as voters living abroad will be permitted to cast their ballots from overseas for the first time. However, past parliamentary elections in the post-communist era have been tainted by irregularities, including vote-buying and the manipulation of election results, casting a shadow on the democratic process.
