Thousands of protesters dispersed after a five-hour-long rally in front of the Albania’s parliament and Tirana’s police directorate today.
Protesters held banners reading “Parliament of Crime – Corrupt Government”. They called for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and for new elections to take place.
Albania’s opposition left the parliament one month ago. Since then it is staging protests outside the Parliament or Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office, whom it accuses of corruption, vote buying and ties to criminal groups.
Scuffles between Astir area residents and police were reported at the protest this morning. Last night, police arrested at least six residents of the Astir area for staging a protest earlier in the day against the demolition of their houses.
The government plans to open the way for the Tirana Outer Ring Road project which foresees the demolition of hundreds of houses and businesses. Astir area residents have been protesting for about five months demanding compensation.
Few months ago it was revealed that the government gave a EUR 18 million tender, part of this project, to a ghost company. The tender was later cancelled following investigative reports that revealed the company had forged documents and signatures of US officials. No arrests have been conducted so far. The government insists it will demolish hundreds of houses without compensation.
In today’s parliament session, three MPs in the opposition’s LSI party list took up their mandates, replacing MPs who resigned following their parties’ decision to vacate the parliament. It total, a dozen of MPs have either refused to resign of decided to take up mandates in the 140-seat parliament.
Yesterday, President Ilir Meta condemned opposition’s resignation and stated that the new opposition forming in parliament does not represent the will of people. The US Embassy, EU Delegation and OSCE/ODIHR have stated that the parliament and government are legitimate.
Protesters left the parliament building after about four hours and while the session was ongoing. The police did not use tear gas against the crowd today, in contrast with previous protests, despite the minor scuffles and fire crackers thrown by protesters.
The crowd walked to the Tirana Police Directorate to demand the release of Astir protesters arrested last night, as well as others arrested today.
From Brussels, where he is meeting with European People’s Party MEPs, opposition’s Democratic Party (PD) leader Lulzim Basha wrote on social media that Albanians are protesting against the “Maduro of the Balkans”.
Opposition’s LSI leader Monika Kryemadhi and other former MPs demanded the release of those arrested. According to her, “14 young boys are being detained despite having breached no law”. Kryemadhi said that instead of innocent people, Minister of Interior Sander Lleshaj would better arrest former minister Damian Gjiknuri, criminals and drug traffickers. She added that police are constrained to detain citizens due to Prime Minister Rama’s fear and panic from resigning.
Rama refuses to resign and his Socialist Party has started preparations for the June local elections. The opposition has indicated it will not participate in any elections with Rama as head of government.
After today’s protest, Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is on a visit to Germany, wrote on Twitter: “[…] The opposition has ended up being a blind crowd taking to the streets and doing politics by inventing crises […]”
Protesters then headed to the PD’s headquarters and dispersed peacefully.
