Violent Clashes Erupt During Anti-Government Protest in Tirana

Tensions escalated in Tirana, Albania, as violent clashes erupted on the evening of March 2, 2024, during an anti-government protest led by opposition leader and former prime minister Sali Berisha. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the main government building, voicing their discontent with the administration of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama and demanding his resignation.

The protest began peacefully, but as speeches concluded, some individuals within the crowd resorted to violence. Demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails at police, prompting law enforcement to respond with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The situation intensified as groups of protesters attempted to march towards the parliament, clashing with police and hurling stones. A police statement confirmed that at least ten officers sustained minor injuries during the confrontations, while Berisha reported that 25 protesters were arrested.

In his address outside the headquarters of the right-wing Democratic Party, Berisha urged attendees to “unite to overthrow this government and to put in place a technical government to prepare early, free and fair elections.” He characterized the protest as the “last kilometre toward the end of Edi Rama’s regime.”

These protests come amid ongoing political strife in Albania, where accusations of corruption have permeated both left and right-wing parties. Notably, in November 2022, a corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, a close ally of Rama, over her alleged involvement in a public procurement graft case. Balluku, who serves as both the infrastructure and energy minister, has vehemently denied the allegations, while Rama condemned her suspension as a “brutal act of interference in the independence of the executive.”

The Constitutional Court temporarily reinstated Balluku to her position in December 2022, pending a final ruling. A parliamentary committee is scheduled to review a request from corruption and organized crime prosecutors on March 6, 2024, to lift her immunity, which could facilitate her arrest.

Simultaneously, Berisha himself faces allegations of awarding public contracts to associates, charges he has strongly denied. The political landscape in Albania remains fraught with accusations and counter-accusations, further complicating the country’s path toward stability and reform.

These events have drawn attention not only locally but also from international observers, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding governance and corruption in Albania. The protests serve as a significant indicator of public sentiment regarding the current administration and the broader issues facing the nation as it aims for closer ties with the European Union.