Demonstration in Albania: clashes between the right-wing opposition and the police

This article was originally published in English

Right-wing anti-government protesters clashed with police and threw Molotov cocktails in the Albanian capital on Monday evening. They demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the replacement of his government by an interim cabinet until next year’s legislative elections.

Clashes in front of government institutions

Chanting “Down with dictatorship”a few thousand protesters gathered in front of the main government building in Tirana. Some of them threw Molotov cocktails and a poster with the image of Rama was burned.

Clashes continued in front of the buildings of the Ministry of the Interior and the city hall. Hundreds of security forces took positions to protect government institutions, using tear gas.

At least 13 people were injured during the clashes, including 10 police officers.

Call for resignation of Albanian Prime Minister

Opposition accuses Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party of corruptionmanipulation of voters and usurpation of the powers of the country’s judicial system.

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party has staged protests outside the Albanian parliament over the past week following the defamation conviction and imprisonment of one of its members, which it considers politically motivated.

Albania, candidate for EU membership

The United States and the European Union have urged the opposition to resume dialogue with the government, recalling that violence could be an obstacle to the integration of the western Balkan state into the European Union.

While the bloc of 27 has given the green light to open accession negotiations with Albania in 2020discussions are soon planned between Tirana and Brussels. These exchanges aim to measure Albania’s level of alignment with EU positions in terms of the rule of law, democratic institutions and the fight against corruption.