Printed On 25 Jan 2026
Clashes have erupted between police and opposition protesters in Albania’s capital over alleged corruption within the Socialist Social gathering authorities, with the demonstrators demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.
The protest, led by opposition chief and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, drew hundreds of individuals to a rally on Saturday night in entrance of Tirana’s essential authorities constructing.
Berisha, who heads the right-wing Democratic Social gathering, urged the gang to “unite to overthrow this authorities and to place in place a technical authorities to arrange early, free and truthful elections”.
Tensions escalated when teams of protesters marched in the direction of parliament and tried to interrupt by way of police cordons, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. At the very least 10 officers sustained minor accidents, police mentioned. In response to Berisha, 25 protesters had been arrested.
In November, a particular corruption court docket suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, an in depth Rama ally, over her alleged position in a public procurement corruption case. Balluku, who additionally serves as infrastructure and vitality minister, has denied the allegations, whereas Rama condemned her suspension as a “brutal act of interference within the independence of the chief”.
Following a request from the federal government, the Constitutional Courtroom in December quickly reinstated Balluku pending its closing ruling. A parliamentary committee is because of evaluation on Wednesday a request from anticorruption and organised crime prosecutors to raise her immunity, which might enable her arrest.
Organised crime and corruption stay key obstacles to Albania’s ambition of becoming a member of the European Union.
Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj was arrested in February final 12 months on suspicion of corruption and cash laundering. Two different former ministers who served underneath Rama have additionally been accused of embezzlement and abuse of energy. Ilir Meta, who has served as president and prime minister, was arrested in October 2024 on accusations of corruption and cash laundering.
